USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 37
USA > Ohio > Morrow County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 37
USA > Ohio > Union County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 37
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Mr. and Mrs. Cranston became the pa-
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rents of four children, concerning whom we offer the following data: French, died in childhood, as also did Webb and Inez; Wal- ter F. resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and is a clergyman in the Free-will Baptist Church. He was born July 25, 1856, and received his education at Merom, Indiana, and Oberlin, this State, being ordained to the ministry in 1889. In his early life he was for some time engaged as a telegraph operator, and prior to thishad been for four years, connected with a mercantile enter- prise at North Lewisburg, this State.
Our subject has never identified himself with any religious denomination, but has ever been in close touch with the broader spirit of Christianity, and has been a most active worker in the cause. He has given special attention to Sunday-school work for many years and has accomplished much good in a quiet, unostentatious way, having held the position of Sunday-school superintend- enr for more than a quarter of a century. For the past twenty years he has been the president of the Union County Sabbath- school Association, and is still the honored incumbent in that office. He has done a noble work and may well revert to the same with pleasure and satisfaction. He has or- ganized a large number of Sunday-schools in the county, which had about thirty-six schools when he began his efforts in this line, but which now shows a total of seventy-six.
S M. WILCOX, a farmer of Porter township, Delaware county, was born near Wilkesbarre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1829. His father, Samuel Wilcox, was born near Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, New York, in 1786, a son of Isaac Wilcox,
a native of Vermont. The mother of our subject was formerly Clarissa Montoine, a native of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Isaac Montoine, of French descent. Samuel Wilcox and wife had twelve children. The sons were: Bowen, S. M., Charles, Calvin and James. Calvin was a soldier in the late war, and James served in the Florida Indian wars. Samuel Wilcox and wife died in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, the former in 1848, and the latter in 1844.
S. M. Wilcox, the subject of this sketch, was reared to farm life in his native county, and subsequently spent five years, from the age of sixteen to twenty-one, just the age (as he says) to form good habits, in boating on the Susquehanna river. In 1851 he located in Richland county, Ohio, but since 1853 has resided in Porter township, Dela- ware county, where he own 168 acres of well-improved land. Mr. Wilcox has served with honor and credit as a Justice of the Peace for twenty-seven years. In his social relations, he is a member of the Masonic order, as follows, of Sparrow Lodge, No. 400, at Sunbury; Chapter Lodge, at Dela- ware; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rites, of Columbus, eighteenth degree; Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rites, of Cincinnati, thirty- second degree, and Knights Templar, Mount Vernon Commandery, No. I, of Columbus, Ohio.
In Kingston township, this county, at the age of twenty-four years, our subject was united in marriage with Sarah Starks. To that union were born five sons, -Allen, Porter, Oliver, Coreaell C. and Galvin. Coreaell C. received a good education at Antioch College, and has been a popular and successful teacher for a number of years. The wife and mother died in 1873. Mr.
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Wilcox was again married, in Richland county, Ohio, to Cynthia, a daughter of James R. Gass.
S HERMAN F. WILLIAMS, one of the prominent and well-known citi- zens of Delaware county, was born in Harlem township, this county, September 5, 1850, a son of Jacob Williams. The latter was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, September 19, 1818, and for many years was a prominent citizen of this coun- ty. His father, Abraham Williams, was also born in New Jersey, and was a member of an old Puritan family, noted in war and religion. He married Sarah Ackerson. His death occurred at Sunbury, Ohio, and his wife died in Franklin county, this State. Jacob Williams, father of our subject, mar- ried Mary Fairchilds, who was born July 17, 1821, a daughter of B. M. Fairchilds, a soldier in the war of 1812. Jacob and Mary Williams had nine children, six now living, viz .: Rose Sweet, of Salina, Kansas; Sher- man F., our subject; Gusta Clapen, of Baldwin City, Kansas; James Finley, of Lawrence, Kansas; Ben A., a resident of the same place; and Jacob T., of Sunbury, Ohio. The deceased children were: Cath- erine, Henry and John W. Henry was a soldier in the late war, a member of the Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and his death occurred in 1885. Jacob Williams died September 15, 1890, at the age of seventy-two years. He was a life-long farmer, was identified with the Republican party, held the office of Trustee, and was an active and zealous worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he served as Class-leader, Trustee and Steward. Mrs. Williams departed this life March 2, 1889.
S. F. Williams, the subject of this memoir, was reared on the old home farm. He now owns 1093 acres of fine farming land in Harlem township. October 22, 1871, he was united in marriage with Mary E. Wickham, who was born, reared and educated in Delaware, Ohio, a daughter of Joseph W. and Phœbe (Thompson) Wick- ham, natives. respectively of Saratoga coun- ty, New York, and Sussex county, New Jer- sey. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, -William W., Robert B., Mary E., Iola Z., Oscar, Eva A., Joseph and Capi- tola. During the late war William W. was a member of the Thirty-second Ohio Infan- try. The father was also a soldier in that struggle, a member of Company I, Thirty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In his polit- ical relations he was identified with the Democratic party. His death occurred at Westerville, Ohio, at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have had six children, viz .: W. W. and Jacob E. are successful teachers; Walter Sherman, Eva Maud; John W .; and Mary E., deceased in infancy. Mr. Williams affiliates with the I. O. O. F., No. 404, of Galena. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
B F. FRESHWATER, Judge of the Probate Court of Delaware, was born on the 24th of November, 1852, on the old "Hinton farm " in Delaware township, and grew to man- hood on a farm in Berlin township. His early education, acquired in the common schools, was afterward supplemented by a more advanced course of study. At the age of nineteen he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, completed the classical course
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of study in that school, and was graduated in 1877.
Mr. Freshwater then took up the study of law in the office of Carper & Van Deman, and in order to meet his expenses taught school at the same time. He was admitted to the bar on the 2d of June, 1880, and on the Ist of July began the practice of his chosen profession in connection with F. B. De Witt, in Paulding county, under the firm name of De Witt & Freshwater. On the Ist of January, 1881, the partnership was dis- solved, and our subject continued alone in business at that place until October 14, 1884, when he returned to Delaware county, and on the 27th day of November, 1885, opened an office in Delaware.
Attracted by politics, Mr. Freshwater became connected with the work of the Re- publican party, the principles of which he warmly advocates, and was made Secretary of the Republican Central Committee, serv- ing in that capacity two years. In 1893 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for the office of Probate Judge, and, being elect- ed, entered upon his duties February 9, 1894.
Mr. Freshwater is a member of Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M., of Lenape Lodge, No. 29, K. P., and of Delaware Lodge, B. P. O. E. He aided in the organization of Com- pany K, Fourteenth Regiment of Ohio Na- tional Guards, and was elected Second Lieu- tenant, but resigned in 1880. He was mar- ried July 2, 1889, to Miss Nellie L. Bab- cock, and they have one child. Judge Freshwater is an able young attorney, whose skill and ability are rapidly winning him prominence in the rants of the legal pro- fession. In the discharge of his public duties he has ever been found true and faithful, and has the confidence and respect of the entire community.
S AMUEL DEMUTH, a farmer of Cardington township, is a son of John Demuth, a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He located on an unimproved farm in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1820. He was married in Penn- sylvania to Magdalena Wimmer, a native also of Bucks county, and a daughter of Philip Wimmer, a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Demuth had seven children, four sons and three daugh- ters, and four are now living: Samuel, the subject of this sketch; John, a resident of Circleville, Ohio; Jacob, of Cardington; and Daniel, also of Circleville. The par- ents were members of the Lutheran Church, and both died in Pickaway county.
Samuel Demuth was born in that county April 20, 1820. He received his education in the district schools, also spending one term at Granville, and, after completing his education, taught thirteen terms. After his marriage he located at Adelphi, Ross county, Ohio, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade, and was also proprietor of a hotel. Seven years afterward he purchased a farm in Hocking county, this State, and in 1860 came to his present farm of 240 acres, all of which is under a fine state of cultiva- tion. Mr. Demuth has served as Trustee, Justice of the Peace three terms, and School Director of Cardington township, and is identified with the Republican party. He began life as a poor boy, and, although afflicted with asthma, has made all he now owns by hard labor and economy.
November 6, 1842, Mr. Demuth was united in marriage with Harriet Patterson, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, Janu- ary 9, 1820, a daughter of John Patterson, an early pioneer of Ross county. To this union have been born eight children, viz .;
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Robert B., a soldier in the Ninetieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, died at St. Louis, Mis- souri, while in the service; John, a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteers, also died in service, at Louisville, Kentucky; Smith, of Westfield township; Otto, Martin, and Samuel, at home; and two deceased in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Demuth have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty- five years, in which the former was Class- leader for fourteen years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Cardington, has been a member of the Odd Fellows' order since 1848, and has passed all the chairs in the latter lodge.
Smith, eldest son of Samuel Demuth, was born at Adelphi, Ross county, Ohio, February 16, 1849. In 1860 he came with his father to Morrow county, and spent two years in a dry-goods store in Cardington, spent the following year in the West, and then taught school in this county one year. In October, 1873, he entered the United States Navy as a " Blue Jacket " for eighteen months on the Roanoke. Mr. Dermuth afterward served as schoolmaster on the United States flagship, Minnesota, in New York harbor, his duties having been to teach the boys the common branches and drill them in all departments of seamanship on board the ship. His time expiring July 20, 1876, he returned home, and taught school the following year in Westfield. After his marriage he was engaged in the sewing-machine business two years, and then, in partnership with Mr. White, began the raising of Percheron horses, in which he still continues.
Mr. Demuth was married, in 1877, to Miss Harriet White, a daughter of J. M. White, a prominent and early pioneer of
Bennington township, Morrow county. He had two daughters,-Mrs. Lovenia Dickey and Mrs. Demuth. Mr. and Mrs. Demuth are the parents of three children, - Jo- sephine, Roy, and Marie. They are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Demuth is identified with the Populist party, and is a member of the Royal Ar- canum.
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J OHN J. GABRIEL, who stands as one of the successful and influential farmers of Union township, Union county, Ohio, figures as a representa- tive of one of the old and honored pioneer families of the county, and it is signally consistent that a review of his life and an- cestral history be incorporated in this vol- ume. He was born in a primitive log cab- in on the farm where he now abides, the date of his birth having been April 20, 1823.
His father was John F. Gabriel, who was a prominent figure in the pioneer his- tory of the county, where he settled within the first year of the present century. John F. Gabriel was one of three brothers who, in 1798, effected the purchase of 500 acres of land in this county, and it is a portion of this tract which constitutes the farm operat- ed by our subject. The father was born in Washington county, Maryland, near the vil- lage of Hagerstown, and was a son of Abram Gabriel, who was likewise a native of that county, with whose history that of his ancestors had been identified for many generations, the agnatic line tracing back its origin to Germany.
In 1801 the three brothers, William, Richard and John F., came overland from their native State to Ohio, and, arriving here, the first named settled near the present vil-
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of Milford Centre, the second locating on a tract just to the south, and John F., father of the immediate subject of this review, establishing himself on the farm which is now retained in the possession of his son, the place being at the time entirely unreclaim- ed. His wife, nce Maria Stewart, was born October 15, 1800, in Pennsylvania, near what is called Friends' Cove, her father, Joseph Stewart, having removed to this county and settled upon Buck Run, about a mile and a half north of Milford Centre, in 1809. The Stewart family is of Irish ex- traction, and the original American ances- tor came from the same section of the Emerald Isle as did the late millionaire merchant of New York city, A. T. Stewart.
John F. and Maria Gabriel were the parents of five children: John (first) is de- ceased; Josiah was killed by a falling tree when he was but twelve years of age; John J. is the subject of this review; Hiram went to Green county, Wisconsin, in 1844, being one of the first settlers in that section: in 1849 he, in company with his brother, Joseph S., became afflicted with the Cali- fornia "gold fever" and joined the innumer- able caravan which was then wending its weary way toward the new Eldorado: he is now a resident of Green county, Wiscon- sin; Joseph S. is a prominent resident of Lake City, Calhoun county, Iowa. The father, John F. Gabriel, was born in 1778 and died November 15, 1828, at the age of fifty years. He was the twin brother of Richard Gabriel and they settled on adjoin- ing farms and lived and died there. They were experts as musicians, the violin being their favorite instrument, and our subject has now in his possession his father's old violin which he bought in the city of Balti- more about one hundred years ago. The
mother never remarried, but devoted her life to her children, whom she cared for with greatest solicitude, rearing them to fill honorable and useful positions in the world. She died April 26, 1872, having reached the age of seventy-one years. Both were zeal- ous members of the Presbyterian Church. This church was situated about a mile be- low where he resided and was the first church in the county, being organized in 1809, with Samuel Woods as pastor.
Our subject, John J. Gabriel, was rear- ed on the old homestead, lending effective assistance in the work of the farm and ac- quiring such mental discipline as was avail- able in the district schools. He was an avidious reader and student as a boy, and night after night in the winter he sat before the cheery old fire-place, and in the light of its crackling flames conned his books and learned his first lessons as to the great out- side world. Diligence and ambition con- quer many an obstacle, and notwithstanding the meagre advantages, our subject was en- abled to secure a good, practical education and eventually to become a teacher in the district schools, proving a capable and popu- lar instructor. He taught in various schools in Union township and was for three years in charge of the school at Milford Centre, and for twenty-five or thirty years a inem- ber of the School Board. He finds it pleasant to recall the fact that there were several of his pupils who in time became men of prominence in public and private life.
Mr. Gabriel has a fine farm of 150 acres and the same is thoroughly well improved. His residence is a commodious and sub- stantial one and the place is well equipped with barns and other outbuildings so essen- tial to the successful conducting of the farm. In connection with general farming he has
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made a specialty, for the past forty years, of raising fine draft horses, of the Norman breed, that stock having been introduced here about that time, and he has raised some very fine specimens of that line.
At the age of thirty years he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah C. Parthemor, a lady of intelligence and refinement, who was reared in Union township, the daughter of Jacob and Sarah C. (Thorton) Parthe- mor, natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. Her mother, Sarah C. Thorton, was born in Urbana, Ohio, in 1806. Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel have four children, namely: Myron, who is a well known resident of Milford Centre, and who holds official pre- ferment as Constable, and is a painter by trade; Elmer, who is engaged in the furni- ture business at Milford Centre; John, who is a carpenter and builder; and Helen, who has been a successful school teacher, but who is now at the parental home.
Mr. Gabriel has met with some very seri- ous reverses in life. In 1846 he had a severe spell of sickness, from which he never en- tirely recovered. February 12, 1877, the house where he now resides was almost entire- ly destroyed by fire, together with nearly all the contents, not leaving them a change of clothing. The weather at the time being ex- tremely cold, they cleared up as best they could and utilized the woodhouse until they could rebuild, which they did the following summer.
In politics, our subject supports the Re- publican party and its principles, and has been an active worker in the cause. He has held the office of Township Trustee, and has been urged by local constituents to allow the presentation of his name for some responsible office, a nomination in this township or county being equivalent to an
election, but he has ever held that his pri- vate interests demanded his full time and attention and he has had no desire for political recognition. It has been his am- bition to strive to live an honest life and to deal fairly and honestly with his fellowmen, having never sued a man or been sued in his life, so that he may leave a name that his children will not be ashamed of, believing that "a good name is better than great riches." As a man he is genial, frank and honorable, strong in his convictions, and never afraid to defend his position upon any point where principle is involved. That such a man enjoys a marked popularity in the community is a foregone conclusion.
J. CONDIT .- One of the most noteworthy of the many fine farm- steads in Trenton township, Dela- ware county, Ohio, is the Home- stead Percheron Stock Farm, of which the subject of this review is proprietor. Mr. Condit was the fourth in order of the five children born to Jotham and Mary (Mulford) Condit, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. The parents came to Delaware county, Ohio, in an early day, locating on the farm where our subject now resides, and there remained until they were summoned to the life eternal, -the father dying at the age of seventy-nine years and the mother at eighty-nine. The father was a man of sturdy integrity, marked intelligence, and much business ability, and success finally came as a reward for his perseverance and singleness of purpose. He became an ex- tensive farmer, owning 1,200 acres of the most desirable land in Trenton township, the village of Condit having been named in his honor. In his political adherency he
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was an ardent Democrat, and a quite active partisan in a local way. He bore arms in the war of 1812 and was a thorough patriot in thought, word and decd. Mr. and Mrs. Jotham Condit became the parents of five children, namely: John K., deceased; Mary J., now Mrs. Green; Winfield Smith, a res- ident of Delaware county, Ohio; Elias J., subject of this sketch; and Susan E., now Mrs. Perfect.
E. J. Condit was born in Trenton town- ship November 27, 1837, and passed his boyhood days upon the parental farm, re- ceiving his education in the schools of the township. In his maturer years he did not depart from the noble art of husbandry, with which he had been identified from his youth up. The wisdom of his continued al- legiance has been shown in the success which has come to him, -the diametrical result of his consecutive application and thorough knowledge of the most expedient methods to be employed. He now owns 580 acres of magnificent farming land, which is in a state of highest cultivation, and which shows the most substantial and attractive improve- ments, among which may be particularly noted a commodious residence and five large barns.
Mr. Condit has attained no little promi- nence as a breeder of Percheron horses, and upon his place may be seen some of the best specimens of this celebrated and popular breed, including Contigny, a magnificent in- dividual, whose registered number is 35, 338, the horse having been bred and reared by Mr. Periott, of France. He also owns American Herdbook, whose weight is 2,000 pounds. It is conceded that the Percherons owned and raised by our subject hold rank with the very best in the State.
At the age of twenty-six years Mr. Con-
dit took unto himself a wife, in the person of Miss Jennie C., a daughter of Middleton and Huldah (Patrick) Perfect, prominent among the early settlers of Delaware county. To our subject and his wife five children have been born: Mulford S .; Lizzie C., wife of John Williamson, of Delaware county, Ohio; Ed. G .; Minnie, wife of Milford Mer- ideth; and Milo J.
It is scarcely necessary to state that Mr. Condit is one of the influential farmers of this section, nor that he is held in the re- spect and esteem of the community where his entire life has been passed. He is ac- tively identified with the Democratic party, and in his religious views and adherency supports the tenets maintained by the Chris- tian Church.
J M. MOODY, the efficient Treasurer of Morrow county, Ohio, was born in Marion county, this State, Janu- ary 11, 1842. Joseph Moody, his father, was a native of Maryland, was reared in Pennsylvania, and was one of the early settlers of Marion county, Ohio. He cleared away the forest and developed a farm in Tully township, Marion county, and lived there for a number of years. Subse- quently he removed to Morrow county, where in died in the seventy-fifth year of his age. John B. Moody, the grandfather of J. M., is supposed to have been born in Mas- sachusetts. He was of Scotch, Welch and Irish descent, was captain of a vessel, and during the war of 1812 was in the United States Navy. Joseph Moody married Miss Ezemiah Mickey, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, daughter of Robert Mickey, who was of Scotch origin. She died in her forty-fifth year. They were the parents of
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ten children, only two of whom reached ma- turity, namely: Mary A., wife of Ed. Beatty, of Pennsylvania, and J. M.
J. M. Moody was the second born in the family. He was reared in his native county, receiving his education in the district school and at Central College, and remaining at home until the outbreak of the civil war. October 22, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company H, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out December 10, 1864, at Nashville, Tennessee. Among the battles in which he participated were those of Stone River, Atlanta, Spring Hill, Franklin and many others. At the battle of Franklin he had his ear pierced by a ball, and after his return home his mother found in his ear a piece of lead which she extracted.
After the war Mr. Moody settled down to farming in Marion county. Subsequently he removed to Iberia, Morrow county, and engaged in the manufacture of drain tile, which he continued for some years. He still has the tile business carried on at that place. For four years he was traveling salesman for the Standard Oil Company. In 1892 he received the nomination for County Treasurer of Morrow county, was duly elected, and has rendered a high degree of satisfaction in this office. At this writ- ing, 1894, he has the nomination for a sec- ond term in the same position. While a resident of Washington township, he served as Township Clerk.
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