USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 42
USA > Ohio > Morrow County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 42
USA > Ohio > Union County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 42
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Mr. Nicholson was elected Lieutenant of the Home Guards, and, later received a commission as Recruiting Officer, being un- able to pass - muster himself. He took an active part in the work all during the war.
In the fall of 1864 Mr. Nicholson began studying for the ministry, and took a regular four years' course. For seven years he preached as an evangelist in the Methodist Episcopal Church, during which time he took in over 10,000 on probation. He then decided to return to the church of his fath- ers, and of his birth, -the Friends, or Quak- ers. So, in 1875, after a service of some fifteen years with the Methodists, he became connected with the ministry of the Friends' Church, and as regular minister preached at East Richland, Belmont county; Freeport, Harrison county; Milan and Berlin, Erie county, and afterward, for six years, in San- dusky city, coming from there to Ashley. While in evangelistic work he preached in twenty-six States. He has been in every county in Ohio except one.
Since he took up his abode in Ashley he has been one of its most active men. He has worked hard to advance the interests of his church and town and has the satisfaction of seeing his efforts attended with success. Previous to his coming to this place he gave but little attention to legal work. He now does a general practice and also carries on an insurance and real-estate business, his real-estate transactions extending over vari- ous portions of the United States. Mr. Nicholson has also had considerable experi-
.
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ence in secret-service work. He is, indeed, a man of great versatility, and whatever he undertakes he carries to a successful issue.
Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Ashley Lodge, No. 421, and the F. & A. M. of Ashley. Politically he is a Republican. He has served as Mayor of Ashley.
Mr. Nicholson was married in Guernsey county, Ohio, October 1, 1856, to Miss Lydia T. Romans, daughter of Evan Ro- mans, a Quaker preacher, and a sister of the the noted Dr. Romans. They have a family of eight, viz: Eliza J. C., wife of Isaac N. Hunt, of New Philadelphia; Phobe A. G., wife of David T. Winrod, of Belmont coun- ty, Ohio, Tacy M. R., wife of John C. Mills, of Muncie, Indiana; Charles E. C., a resi- dent of Sandusky City; George W. T., a resi- dent of Lorain, Ohio; John T. F., San- dusky city; Jessie B. F., Ashley; and Mary A. K., at home. The family are all muscu- lar and their aggregate weight is 2,072 pounds, while the aggregate height of the four sons is twenty-four feet, the oldest son being six feet and four inches without his boots and weighing 250 pounds.
J R. SIMPSON, another one of the prosperous and well-known farmers and stock-dealers of Troy township, Delaware county, Ohio, was born in Ohio county, West Virginia, near Wheeling, September 5, 1832.
William Simpson, his father, was a na- tive of Ohio, born in Belmont county, son of John Simpson, the latter's native place being Washington county, Pennsylvania. John Simpson was a millwright by trade. He came to Ohio at an early day and built the first mill on McMans creek, in Belmont
county. The Simpsons are of Scotch-Irish descent. The mother of J. R. Simpson, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Burns, was a native of West Virginia and a daugh- ter of Walter Burns, who was of Irish de- scent, Mr. Burns being a native of Ohio. Our subject's parents were married in West Virginia, and lived on a farin there a few years after their marriage. About 1838 they removed to a farm in Belmont county, Ohio, where they spent the rest of their lives and died, his death occurring in 1861, at the age of fifty-five years, and hers in 1887, at the age of sixty-four years. They were the parents of twelve children, four daughters and eight sons, eight of whom reached adult years and are still living, viz. : J. R .; John, of Nebraska; Denney, of Kan- sas; Walter, who resides on the old home place in Belmont county; Angeline Farmer, of Howell, Missouri; Elizabeth, wife of Middleton Bent, of St. Clairsville, Ohio; Henry, Mansfield, Ohio; and William, Bel- mont, Ohio.
J. R. Simpson, the oldest of this family, was about six years of age when he came to Ohio with his parents, and in Belmont county he was reared and educated, growing up on his father's farm. After his marriage he spent eight years on a farm in that county, and from there removed to his present loca- tion in Delaware county. Here he owns a fine farm of 237 acres. For some time he gave his attention to the sheep business, but is now making a specialty of raising fine horses. In 1890 he erected a fine barn, at a cost of $1,400.
Mr. Simpson was married March 10, 1859, to Eliza Jane Glover, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, March 5, 1837, a daughter of Samuel and Eliza (McKison) Glover, she being the third of their nine
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children. Mrs. Simpson died January 23, 1891. She was the mother of six children, namely: Mary; Amos, deceased; Denney, a farmer of Brown township, this county; Edward W., at home; James B., attending dental college at Chicago; and Louis B., who is studying medicine and resides at home.
Mr. Simpson is a member of the Presby- terian Church, and in his political affiliations is a Republican. He has served as Town- ship Trustee. During the civil war he was a Union soldier, enlisting in 1861 in the 100 days' service and serving as a private.
Such is a brief sketch of the life of one of Delaware county's representative farmers.
ILLIAM KING, who is promi- nently connected with the politi- cal interests of Magnetic Springs and occupies a leading position in commercial circles, being engaged in general merchandising, has the honor of being a native of the Buckeye State. He was born on a farm near Mount Sterling, Madison county, September 1, 1855, and is a son of John R. and Mary Ellen (Timmons) King. The King family is of Irish and Scotch descent. The great-grandfather of our sub- ject was born in Ireland, and in his younger years came to the United States, locating in Vermont, where he was married and made his home until his death. His son Wil- liam, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in the Green Mountain State, and when twenty-two years of age removed to Ohio. He was one of the pio- neers of the State, and cut cord-wood on the present site of the State capitol. After living in Franklin county for a time, he located near Chillicothe, Ross county, and 20
about 1830 went to Madison county, settling on a tract of wild land, which he trans- formed into a good farm and made his home until his death. He was the third settler in that section of the State. He started out in life a poor man, but by industry and well-directed efforts won a comfortable prop- erty. He served in the war of 1812, and in politics was first a Whig and then a Repub- lican. Mr. King married Miss Mary Thomas, also a native of Vermont, and they became the parents of three children: Mrs. Mar- garet Stoddard; Ellen, who died in early life; and John R.
The last named was educated in the common schools, was reared on a farm, and has followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life. He is recognized as one of the leading members of the Republican party in this locality, and is a faithful member of the Christian Church. His father was in- strumental in the erection of the Antioch church near Mount Sterling. Six children have been born to John R. and Mary Ellen King, namely: Mary C., wife of John W. Bricker, of Madison county; William; Mil- ton A. and Winfield S., both deceased; Emma, who has also passed away, and Laura, wife of Lemuel Bricker, of Madison county.
In the usual manner of farmer lads, Mr. King, of this sketch, spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and his school privi- leges were those afforded in the neighbor- hood. He remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age, at which time he was married, in London, Ohio, to Miss Letitia Watrous. Their union has been blessed with two sons, -John R. and Roy Milton.
Upon his marriage, Mr. King began farm- ing in Madison county in his own interest
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and successfully carried on agricultural pur- suits until 1886, when, on account of the health of both himself and wife, he left the farm and came to Magnetic Springs, where he has since made his home. Opening a general merchandise store, he is now doing a prosperous business along that line. Both Mr. and Mrs. King are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is now serving as Trustee, and he is also con- nected with Pharisburg Lodge, No. 664, I. O. O. F., and Magnetic Springs Lodge, No. 380, K. P. Like his father, he is much interested in the success and growth of the Republican party, and from March, 1892, until April, 1894, served as Postmaster of this place. He has filled the offices of Supervisor, School Director, Mayor of the city, and has been a member of the City Council. He was Assessor in both Union and Madison counties and is now serving as Treasurer of the School Board and as Justice of the Peace. Since the age of fifteen he has labored in the interests of the Republican party, has frequently been dele- gate to the State conventions, and has been a member of the Central Committee since his residence here. In all the relations of life Mr. King is ever found honorable and upright, and his public and private career are alike above reproach. His fellow citi- zens have for him high regard and his friends are many.
J OSEPH LEWIS is a son of Morgan Lewis, who was born in Onondaga county, New York, July 15, 1806. His parents were Jonathan and Mabel (Hoyt) Lewis. Jonathan Lewis was born in New York, of English descent, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He re-
moved from New York to Vermont in 1800, and in 1834 located in Morrow county, Ohio. His death occurred June 26, 1860, and his wife departed this life September 27, 1849.
When seventeen years of age Morgan Lewis built and operated a large sawmill, in New York, which he afterward lost by a flood. He came with his family and par- ents to Ohio, locating in an old log house just north of Westfield village, Delaware county. He built and for a number of years operated the mill on the Whetstone, north of Westfield, and afterward erected mills for Lester Bartlett and others. He subsequently sold his Westfield property and located in Cardington, where he died in 1889. It is said that Mr. Lewis built and operated more saw and grist mills than any other man in central Ohio.
He was married in New York State to Miss Cyrene Schofield, and they had eleven children, four of whom are now living, namely : Charlotte, wife of Ralph Perry, of Michigan; Jerome married Elizabeth Shoemaker, and lives in Delaware county; Harriet is the wife of George Mooney, of Delaware, and she has two children by her former husband, William Trindle; and Joseph, the subject of this sketch. Four of the sons served in the civil war. Orson was a member of Company D, Sixty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died February 19, 1863, at Nashville, Tennessee, while still in service. Jonathan, a member of the same company and regiment, was killed December 16, 1864, in the battle of Nash- ville. Jerome was a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mrs. Lewis died in 1862, and the father afterward married Laura Turner.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were members of
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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the former was Steward, Trustee and Class- leader, and for a number of years was Sup- erintendent of the Sunday-school. He was identified with the Republican party, and served as Treasurer and Justice of the Peace.
Joseph Lewis, our subject, was born in Westfield township, Morrow county, De- cember 21, 1839. He learned and followed the miller's trade, owning a steam mill six miles north of Delaware. He has 118 acres of well-improved land, and is engaged in general farming. In August, 1862, he enlisted for service in the late war, entering Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was sent into Kentucky, and took part in the bat- tles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Rome (Georgia), Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, At- lanta campaign, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Georgia, and Bentonville, North Carolina, and went with Sherman on his march to the sea; was pres- ent at the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston, and took part in the grand review at Washington, District of Columbia. Re- turning to Columbus, he was discharged in June, 1865, never having been absent from his post, Mr. Lewis had a close call from a bullet at the battle of Perryville, and at Atlanta campaign they made three charges, and he was knocked about twenty" feet by the explosion of a shell in the last charge.
Our subject was united in marriage, in 1860, to Phobe Hinton, a native of Dela- ware county, and a daughter of William Hin- ton. She died while her husband was at the front in North Carolina, in 1865, leaving two children, -- Frank and Loretta. The latter is the widow of Ethan Williams, and has
two daughters, Pearl and May. For his second wife Mr. Lewis married Augusta Bo- ger, nèe Martin, a sister of Mrs. A. H. Shaw. After her death our subject married Lucinda Aldrich, a native of Delaware county, and a daughter of Smith Aldrich. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He is a charter member of James St. John Post, G. A. R., at Card- ington. He has served as Trustee, Road Supervisor and School Director of West- field township, has frequently been a dele- gate to county conventions, and is an active worker in the Republican party.
ATTHEW BEACOM, who owns and operates 350 acres of good land in Kingston township, Dela- ware county, is a native of Penn- sylvania. The place of his birth is in Beaver county, and the date is March 26, 1829. His father, Matthew Beacom, was born on the Emerald Isle and when a child of seven years left that country for the New World. During his youth he learned the cabinet- maker's trade in Wheeling, West Virginia, and followed it for a time, but later turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1834 he removed to Delaware county and purchased 100 acres of land in Porter town- ship. The tract was wild and unimproved, being situated in the midst of the forest. There were no neighbors in sight and the entire county was yet a frontier settlement in which the work of progress and civiliza- tion seemed scarcely begun. With charac- teristic energy Mr. Beacom began clearing his land and in course of time developed a good farm.
After he had attained to mature years Matthew Beacom, Sr., was united in mar-
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riage to Miss Elizabeth Henry, and they be- came the parents of two sons and a daugh- ter, namely: Matthew, subject of this sketch; John, one of the prominent and influential farmers of Putnam county, Ohio; and Mar- garet, deceased wife of James Alexander. The mother died in 1867; the father died in 1870, and many friends mourned their loss.
Our subject received but meager school privileges. He was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier and aided in the ardu- ous task of clearing and developing a new farm, giving his father the benefit of his ser- vices until he had attained his majority. He then started out in life for himself. He did not change his occupation, but as soon as possible made a purchase of land, becom- ing owner of a tract of sixty acres in Porter township. To this he added until he had 130 acres, which he at length sold. He then removed to Kingston township, where he now has a fine farm of 350 acres under a high state of cultivation and well improv- ed. In addition to this one he had 100 acres which he gave to his sons, and seven- ty-five acres to his daughter. His life has been a busy and useful one, and by earnest application and honest, straightforward deal- ing he has gained a comfortable competence.
In the year 1854 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Beacom and Miss Caroline Mendenhall, daughter of William and Fe- licity Mendenhall. By their union have been born. eight children, five sons and three daughters, namely: Henry and Orville, both now deceased; Clinton, who resides upon a farm adjoining his father's land; William, at home; Ida, wife of Richard Wood; Cora, who is yet under the parental roof; Clark, who is attending college in Delaware; and Lillie, now deceased.
Mr. Beacom is a warm friend of the
cause of education, and has given his chil- dren good advantages along that line, there- by fitting them for the practical and respon- sible duties of life. His son William is a graduate of Delaware College. Mr Bea- com is devoted to the interests of his family, and does all in his power to promote their happiness and welfare. In this he is ably assisted by his wife, who is a most estimable lady. Both are consistent Christian people, holding membership with the Methodist Church. In politics Mr. Beacom is a Re- publican.
ILLIAM F. GAGE, a farmer of Bennington township, Morrow county, is a son of Phillip Gage, who was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, in 1791. His father, Phillip Gage, was a native of New York, and was a prominent physician. The family in America are descended from General Gage, a native of England, who commanded the British army in Boston. Phillip Gage, Jr., was married in New Jersey, June 6, 1813, to Deborah Flood, born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, in 1793, of Irish and German descent. After marriage, Phillip Gage and wife came to Ohio, locating on a farm ad- joining the one our subject now owns, the same being then covered with timber. His death occurred here in 1886, and his wife died in 1884. They were the parents of the following children: William F., the subject of this sketch; Stephen, of Ben- nington townslip; Sarah Ann Goodwin, de- ceased; Elizabeth Hess, and George, a resident of Marengo, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Gage were members of the Presbyterian Church. He was a Whig and afterward a Republican.
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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.
William F. Gage was born at Wood- bridge, New Jersey, November 10, 1822, and was fourteen years of age when he came to Ohio, where he attended the primi- tive log school house. He assisted his father to clear 300 acres of land. The family were very poor, and the father was obliged to make shoes in order to obtain food, which often consisted of only potatoes and salt. After they had been here for some time the father secured some money, and, learning that an old Quaker residing about ten miles distant, near where the present village of Ashley, Delaware county, is situated, had some flour to sell, he de- termined to secure at least a small supply, as the family had had no bread for some time. Accordingly, in company with his son Clarkson, the old gentleman walked over to investigate as to the possibility of securing some flour. The old Quaker agreed to let them have the flour on the con- dition that Clarkson should work for him and thus pay the purchase price. So the boy stayed, and his father walked home, bearing the coveted sack of flour on his shoulder. On his arrival there was great rejoicing among the children, who were eager to once more have a slice of bread to eat. After the family began to raise wheat of their own they were compelled to take the same to Zanesville, forty or fifty miles distant, to have it ground. After his mar- riage, our subject located on the farm now known as the Robert Taylor estate, and thirty-one years ago came to his present place of 136 acres, all of which is under a fine state of cultivation. In his political relations Mr. Gage affiliates with the Re- publican party, and has held the position of Road Supervisor.
July 3, 1845, he was united in marriage
to Mary Jane Price, born in this township in 1830, a daughter of John Price and Barbara (Silkmitter) Price, natives of Pennsylvania. They located in Bennington township as early as 1820, on the farm now owned by Royal Moore. Mrs. Gage is the only living representative of the family. Our subject and wife have five children, namely: James P., who married Angeline Keys, resides in Kansas and has four children; Samuel P., who married Alice Sherman, has one child; P. W., who married Minnie Sleif, resides in Delaware county, Ohio, and has two chil- dren; Lida is the wife of Willie Hunt, of Bennington township, and they have two children; and Ellswort E. married Marga- retta Hempey, and resides in Granville, Ohio. The eldest son, James P., was a soldier in the civil war, a member of the Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in the right arm at the battle of Peach Tree Creek. The children have all received good educations, three of them having been successful teachers, and Mr. Gage has served as School Director. Mrs. Gage is a member of the Methodist Church.
ILLIAM WILLITS, a farmer of Cardington township, Morrow county, was born in this town- ship, January 19, 1831. His grandfather, Samuel Willits, was a native of Wales, and his son, Joel Willits, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia in 1804. He removed from that State when a mere boy, and was raised on a farm in Knox county, Ohio. His wife, née Cynthia Lewis, was born in Pennsylvania in 1807, a daughter of John Lewis, an early settler of Knox county, Ohio, and of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. She was raised and mar-
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ried in the latter county. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Joel Willits moved to Cardington township, Marion, now Mor- row, county. He located on timber land, which he cleared and improved, and after- ward sold to William Curl, Sr. He next moved to Le Grand, Marshall county, Iowa, where he died November 8, 1864. Mrs. Willits died in Cardington township, Janu- ary 2, 1887. They were the parents of nine children, namely: John, who resides in California; William, the subject of this sketch; Samuel, who is supposed to have died in California; Elvira, wife of Stephen A. Wood, of Cardington; Deborah, de- ceased, was the wife of Benjamin Sharpless; Wendal P., who was killed in the battle of Stone River or Murfreesboro; Esther Ann, deceased; Clayton, a resident of this town- ship; and Sarah Ellen, wife of Grafton Benedict, of Delaware, Ohio. Three of the sons were soldiers in the civil war, -- William, Clayton and Wendel P. The par- ents were members of the Society of Friends. In political matters Mr. Willits was an active worker in the Republican party.
April 20, 1861, William Willits enlisted as a private in Company I, Third Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, was stationed at Camp Dennison for three months, after which the regiment was reorganized and our sub- ject returned home. He now owns eighty acres of well-improved land, where he is engaged in general farming. For several years he also worked on the Big Four Rail- road.
Mr. Willits was united in marriage, in the fall of 1861, to Lucinda Grandy, who was born in New York, July 12, 1834, a daughter of William and Celinda (Brock- way) Grandy, early settlers of Cardington,
Ohio, but both now deceased. Of the chil- dren of our subject and wife, we offer the following record: Estella, deceased, was the wife of W. P. Vaughan, of Cardington, and they had one child, James G .; William Arthur died at the age of seventeen years; Edward Martin is assistant cashier in the First National Bank of Cardington: and a fourth child, who died in infancy. Edward M. married Daisy Wolfe, and they have two children, -William Henry and an in- fant. Religiously Mr. Willits is a member of the Universalist Church at Cardington; socially is a member of the James St. John Post, G. A. R .; and politically affiliates with the Republican party.
AMES W. GALLANT, another one of the highly respected farmers resid- ing near Radnor, Delaware county, Ohio, was born south of Ashley, in what is now Morrow (then Delaware) county, Ohio, April 1, 1834, and has been identified with this part of the country all his life. A brief sketch of him and his ancestry is as follows:
He is a son of Elisha and Eleanor (Moore) Gallant, and a grandson of James Gallant. James Gallant's father was a native of Ire- land and was one of the pioneers of Ken- tucky, where James was born, in 1780, and where he grew up and was united in mar- riage to Mary Clay, a Kentucky lady and a cousin of the distinguished Henry Clay. They came to Ohio about 1805, and here, on the farm now owned by Charles S. Gal- lant, a son of the subject of this sketch, Elisha Gallant was born in 1809. Elisha Gallant was a farmer all his life and was well known as a man of high moral worth.
Both he and his wife were members of
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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.
the Baptist Church. He died at the age of sixty-two, and she was seventy-four at the time of her death, Their family was com- posed of three children, namely; James W. ; Amelia, wife of Evan J. Roberts, of Radnor; and Mary, wife of Hon. Samuel Lewis. William Moore, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a veteran of the war of 1812, and was a pioneer of Delaware county, Ohio.
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