Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio, Part 46

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 46
USA > Ohio > Morrow County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 46
USA > Ohio > Union County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 46

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Elba Nile, Hortense Virginia and Cunard Maxwell. Joseph B. Kingman is at home. George Edward died in childhood. Hortense Vashti is the deceased wife of Professor Henry A. Foster. She commenced teach- ing school before she was sixteen years of age, and had pupils who were older than herself. She was a graduate of the high school at Mount Gilead, and afterward at- tended the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, where she became ac- quainted with Professor Foster. She was a young woman of beautiful character and high order of intelligence. After her mar- riage she removed with her husband to Pon- tiac, Illinois, where she died only eleven months later.

Mrs. Kingman is a woman of great memory and "strong common sense," whose kindly character and genial and sym- pathetic nature have endeared her to a large circle of devoted friends, while in her gentle graciousness lies the charm of true refinement and the evidence of the born gentlewoman. She is noted in the com- munity for her devotion to the collecting of interesting relics and quaint family heir- looms, and none are more highly prized by her than the little splint-bottomed chair in which she sat during their journey to this country, sixty years ago; a large tortoise- shell comb of her mother's, bought sixty- eight years ago, and still in perfect condi- tion, not even a tooth missing, although worn almost constantly by her for thirty years; and a little butter tray made by her father sixty years since. She has set apart a room in her pleasant home for the displaying of this collection, which constitutes an attractive and veri- table museum, concerning whose vari- ous articles Mrs. Kingman can entertain

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MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

one with piquant and diverting descriptions and narratives. Her home is one which shows culture and refined taste, and is one in which there is always assured a gracious welcome. She is loved and esteemed by all in the community, where so many years of her life have been passed.

The following poein, composed by L. M. Cunard, son of the late Judge S. T. Cunard, was read September 23, 1892, by his sister, Mrs. Mary C. Kingman, at their mountain home:

MY MOUNTAIN HOME.

With weary pace and saddened heart, To this dear spot I come; While gathering tears unbidden start, For 'tis my childhood home; And six decades have rolled away Since first I rambled here, With bounding step in childish play, Untrammelled by a care.

But O what changes! Sixty years Have given few pleasures birth; But disappointments, bitter tears, Have quenched the flames of mirth. Now, from my own loved Ohio, Here once again I come;

And mem'ry's currents backward flow, While at my mountain home.

Here will I close my eyes and dream I am a child again, Let old-time scenes, like rushing stream, Pass by me, now, as then. Sweet dream. O'er grand old mountain heights, Again, a child, I roam; Anon, I soar in joyous flights Around my mountain home.

I dream, and while I dream, behold The "old home" as it was,

Ere thrce-score years their tale had told Of grief, and death, and wars.

I still dream on; and now I hear A song of long ago;

I list, entranced, and still more clear The echoing anthems flow.

O, how familiar is that strain; How soft each cadence steals,

To soothe and quiet every pain, My childish spirit feels. Old Blue Ridge-lofty, more sublime Than polished Grecian dome; Surroundings change, and men; but Time Moves not my mountain home.

Here would I stay and still dream on, And breathe thy bahny air, But oh! the sweet illusion's flown; I wake; old age is here; But while life lasts, and memories live, Where e'er on earth I roam, My latest thoughts to thee I'll give, Thou dear old mountain home.

NDREW J. GORDON, one of the leading farmers of Franklin town- ship, Morrow county, was born in Perry county, this State, Novem- ber 26, 1843, the eldest son of Israel Gor- don. August 3, 1861, Andrew J. enlisted for service in the late war, entering Com- pany A, Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, for three years. He spent two months in guarding boats at Gallipolis, was then at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky, until February, 1862, and next went to Somerset, that State, where he was assigned to Gen- eral Thomas' command and took part in the battles of Mill Spring. Returning to Louis- ville and on to Nashville, he participated in several skirmishes. Next, under General Bull, Mr. Gordon took part in the second day's fight at Shiloh, and served through the siege of Corinth. Returning to Hunts- ville and Louisville, he took part in the bat- . tle of Perrysville, thence on to Nashville, to guard Cage's Ford, and repelled General John Morgan's forces. Mr. Gordon, who was then on picket duty, saw the army coming, and notified the regiment. He fired at a horseman, knocking him from his

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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

saddle, after which the fight began in ear- nest, with the result that Morgan was re- pulsed. Returning to Nashville, he partici- pated in a small fight at Triunt, Tennessee, also in the battles of Murfreesboro and Chickamauga. At the latter engagement he was shot in the left side of his head by a musket ball, about 3 P. M., on September 19, 1863, and remained senseless for a long time. He was taken to Hospital No. 3, at Nashville, where an operation was per- formed, and was afterward removed to Zollicoffer's barracks. In the meantime his regiment was discharged on a furlough. After his recovery he rejoined them at Nashville, where they were on veteran fur- lough, and the regiment marched from that city to Chattanooga. Mr. Gordon was a participant in the memorable "March to the Sea," took part in the engagement at Dalton, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, and in all the battles in which the regiment par- ticipated, including the siege of Atlanta. During all that time he suffered greatly from his wound, which did not heal for two years after his return home.

After leaving the army, Mr. Gordon re- mained on his father's farm for a time, and then followed the carpenter's trade for sev- eral years. He subsequently settled on a farm in this township, and nineteen years ago came to his present farm of 318 acres, all of which is under a fine state of cultiva- tion. In 1881 he built his residence, at a cost of $1,700. In addition to general farm- ing, Mr. Gordon is extensively engaged in raising Shorthorn cattle (owning at one time forty head) and Shropshire sheep.

November 13, 1869, our subject was united in marriage with Rachel La Rue, a native of Perry county, Ohio, and a daugh- ter of John B. La Rue, deceased. To this

union have been born four children, -John B., Dora, William, and Susan. The eldest son graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity in the class of 1894. Mr. Gordon is a life-long Republican, and has served as School Director for sixteen years. In his social relations he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order Odd of Fellows, at Mount Gilead, also the Encampment, and is a member of the U. V. L. Mr. Gordon still suffers greatly from the wound received in the war.

HOMAS HERD, one of the ven- erable citizens of Liberty town- ship, Union county, Ohio, has lived in this township longer than any other man in it. A sketch of his life will be of interest to many, and it is as fol- lows:

Thomas Herd was born in Harmony township, Clark county, Ohio, six miles east of Springfield, March 4, 1813. His father, also named Thomas, was a native of Berkeley county, Virginia, and was a mem- ber of a prominent family of the Old Do- minion. He and three of his brothers, Benjamin, Lewis and Stephen, were par- ticipants in the Revolutionary war. After the war Lewis and Benjamin went to Mas- sachusetts, where they settled and reared their families, some of their descendants be- coming prominent as lawyers, ministers and doctors. Stephen and Thomas settled in Fayette county, Kentucky. The mother of our subject, Dorcas Herd, was born in Pennsylvania, her people being of Scotch origin. From Fayette county, Kentucky, Thomas Herd and his wife removed to Clark county, Ohio, where both died of milk sick- ness, the father dying before the birth of

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MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

our subject, and the mother six months after that event. They had a family of eight children, namely: James, William, John, Ann, Mary, Lewis, Betsey and Thomas.

Thus left an orphan, young Thomas found a home with 'Squire James Herd, a cousin, with whom he remained until he was fourteen. He then served an appren- ticeship to the trade of tanner and currier, at which he worked for seven years and eight months, becoming an expert at the business. Subsequently he worked at this trade at Chillicothe and Marion, Ohio. Later he turned his attention to farming, settling on 100 acres of land, all covered with heavy timber. In the midst of this dense forest he built a log cabin and at once set about the work of clearing and develop- ing it. He has been a hard worker all his life and in his younger days was regarded as one of the strongest men in the county. As the years passed by and prosperity attended his earnest efforts, he acquired other land, and at one time was the owner of 703 acres, the most of which was well improved and under cultivation. He has given each of his sons a farm and now has 450 acres left. In con- nection with his farming operations, he has always given considerable attention to stock- raising, especially horses and cattle. Dur- ing the war he bought and sold horses and he found it a paying business at that time.

Mr. Herd was married October 11, 1835. to Lydia Darrow, who was born in Clinton county, New York, and reared in Champaign county, Ohio, daughter of James and Sarah (Willard) Darrow. Her grandfather Wil- lard served all through the Revolutionary war. He was a native of Massachusetts. Mrs. Herd died May 15, 1892, leaving a family of five children: Olive, wife of John

Reed, of Liberty township, Union county; James, a Justice of the Peace and a popu- lar and successful teacher for a number of years, died at the age of forty-nine; Hiram D., resident of Liberty township; William, of Allen township, this county; and John, on the home farm. In 1893 Mr. Herd married Mrs. Jane Sparks, widow of Charles Sparks. Her maiden name was Bryan and she was born in Wayne county, Ohio.

Politically Mr. Herd is a Republican; religiously a Universalist. Time has dealt gently with him, and although now in his eighty· second year he is well preserved and appears much younger. He is frank and genial and has many friends both among the old and the young.

3 S. MCGINNIS, postoffice Richwood, follows farming in York township, Union county, where he owns and operates 240 acres of land. This is a valuable tract, and the rich soil yields to the owner a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he bestows upon it. Upon the place is a comfortable residence, good barn and windmill and all the other accessories and conveniences of a model farm.

Mr. McGinnis was born on this place on the 23d of August, 1867, and comes of a family of Scotch-Irish origin. His grandparents, Johnson and Margaret (Penick) McGinnis, came to Union county in 1854. They had a family of nine children, one of whom, William McGinnis, became the father of our subject. That gentleman was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, January 7, 1818, and was there reared and educated. Hav- ing arrived at man's estate he wedded Miss Mary Hartford, and they became the parents

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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

of four children, two of whom are yet liv- ing,-Andrew N., of Norfolk, Nebraska; and Amelia J. Taylor, of Bokes Creek, Ohio. Those deceased are: Albert O., who died at the age of twenty-eight; and John, who died in childhood. The mother of this family was called to the home beyond on the 4th of July, 1861, and on April 20, 1865, Mr. McGinnis married Miss Mary J. Sterling, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio, May 25, 1833, and is a daughter of David and Mary (Cox) Sterling. Her father died in York township, February 18, 1874, and her mother passed away June 17, 1882. They had a family of four children, namely: Mary J., John H., Amos James, who was a soldier and Colonel of the late war and is now living in Leadville, Colorado; and Rebecca Margaret, who is living in Rich- wood, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis also had four children: John Sterling, of this sketch; Agnes G., born Ocotober 18, 1870; James H., who died December 13, 1869, at the age of nineteen months, and David W., who died August 24, 1877, at the age of five years. Agnes G. was united in marriage to William A. Mulligan on January 14, 1892. He died May 19, 1892: to them were born a daughter, Mary R., February 8, 1893. The father departed this life November 13, 1889, when seventy-one years of age.

No event of special importance occurred during the boyhood and youth of our sub- ject. He was reared in his parents' home in the usual manner of farmer lads, working in the fields through the summer months, and attending the common schools of the neighborhood during the winter season. He is a wide-awake and enterprising young man and his industrious habits and energetic dis- position are winning him success in his un- dertakings. In connection with farming he 22

is interested in the Central Ohio Fence Company, of Richwood, Ohio, of which he is now president.

On June 20, 1894, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. McGinnis and Miss Minnie Dell Spicer, daughter of David and Keziah (Ross) Spicer. They are well known people of this community, and in the township where they live have many warm friends. Mr. McGinnis exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican party and holds membership with Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 303, A. F. & A. M., and with the Pres- byterian Church.

J H. GRIFFITH, deceased, for many years a highly respected business man of Delaware, Ohio, was born in Wales, near the English border, his birth occurring about 1825. He learned the trade of stone cutter when a young man, and was engaged in the marble business all his life. In 1859 he emigrated to America, coming direct to Delaware, Ohio, and here he established the business which his son, T. H. Griffith, is carrying on at the pres- ent time. His wife, née Ann M. Davis, had died in Wales, and he brought with him his only son to this country. For two years he was in partnership with a Mr. E. C. Covell, and with that exception he did business alone, his whole career being marked by signal success.

T. H. Griffith was born August 4, 1848, and, as above stated, came with his father to Delaware, Ohio, in 1859. In the public schools of this city he received his educa- tion and as soon as he was old enough be- gan working in his father's establishment. After his father's death he assumed full con- trol of the business, which he has since suc-

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cessfully conducted, doing the largest busi- ness in his line in the county. Like his father before him, he is an expert at the business.

Mr. Griffith was married August II, 1873, to Miss Susan M. Dickie, and has two sons, Earle and Carey. Their resi- dence is on South Main street.

0 LFORD HALE is classed with the leading farmers of Paris township, Union county, Ohio, his post office address being Marysville. A brief sketch of his life is as follows:

Olford Hale was born at Fort Finley, Wood county, Ohio, April 16, 1838, and comes of Irish extraction. Grandfather Hale was a veteran of the Revolutionary war. He owned a farm three miles from the city of New York, where his son, Reuben, the father of our subject, was born and reared. Reuben Hale came to Ohio when a young man, and was employed on the old Maumee canal. While at work there he formed the acquaintance of Asher Wickham, who invited him to his home, and there he met Mr. Wickham's daughter, Miss Emmaline, who subsequently became his wife. She was born near Fort Finley, in Wood county, and, like him, was of Irish descent. Some time after their marriage they removed to Alle 1 township, Union county, and settled on a farm on Derby creek, where they spent the residue of their lives, the mother dying at the age of forty years, and the father at fifty-eight. They reared a large family of children to occupy honorable and useful positions in life, their names being as follows: Amanda, William, Minerva, Elizabeth E., Olford, Lucy, Jas-

per, Lafayette, Jonas, Algeretta, Israel, and Helen. Four of the sons, William, Lafayette, Jonas, and Jasper, were soldiers in the Union army, and Jasper died in Libby prison.

The subject of this article, Olford Hale, was reared on a farm in Allen township, this county, and obtained his education in the district school, and later in the practical school of experience. When he was six- teen he hired out to work for John Reed, a farmer of Union township, with whom he remained for several years. After his mar- riage he settled in that township, and re- sided there until he came to his present farm in Paris township. Here he and his wife have 118 acres of choice land, on which is a good brick house and other de- sirable improvements, and everything is kept up in good shape.

Mr. Hale was married in October, 1872, to Miss Sarah Ann Moodie, daughter of William and Lucinda (Jones) Moodie, the former deceased, and the latter still living on the old home farm in Union township. William Moodie was born in Virginia, the son of a Scotchman who came to this country about 1817; he was a man of more than ordinary business ability, and during his life in Union county, Ohio, which cov- ered a period of over sixty years, he was engaged in farining, and accumulated a large amount of property. He died August 7, 1894, leaving an estate estimated to be worth $60,000. His only children are a son and daughter, Henry and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Hale have had seven children, three of whom are living, -Lucinda, Anna May, and Emmaline. Lucinda is the wife of Casper Daum, of this township. The four deceased were Etta and Ed (twins), and Fred W. and Walter.

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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

In his political views Mr. Hale is a radi- cal Republican. The only public position he ever held was on the School Board.

EV. GEORGE J. WOOD, of Mor- row county, is a son of Daniel Wood, a native of Vermont. He came from New York to Ohio about 1815, locating on what is known as the Munson farm, and taught the first school ever opened in Peru township. He was a minister in the Friends' Church, and had visited every State in the Union, except- ing one, in evangelistic work. His first marriage was to Phobe Benedict, a native of New York. She died after coming to Ohio. Of their children, only one is now living,. Richard, of South Woodbury. Daniel Wood was afterward married to Elizabeth Lancaster Benedict, a cousin of his former wife, and a native also of New York. She came with her parents to Ohio in 1812, when about fourteen years of age. She started from her Uncle Sylvester Bene- dict's on an errand through the woods in the edge of the evening, and, missing her path, took an Indian trail which led her off her route onto what was known as the "Musk Rat Prairie," not far from Carding- ton. The few settlers collected, built fires through the woods and searched for her all night without success. She found her way the next day, and a messenger was sent to meet the troops on their way up to Sun- bury on the supposition that she had been stolen by Indians, but they refused to be turned back until they had seen her. She had lost one shoe- off and passed some of the night in a tree-top near by where the wolves had killed a colt a few nights before. It was a frosty night, and the exposure

caused a white swelling in one of her limbs and made her an invalid for many years. She was married in Peru township, Mor- row county.

Mr. and Mrs. Wood lived on several different places in this county, and their property was finally destroyed by fire, after which they moved to South Woodbury, where he died in 1868. The town of Wood- bury was named in his honor. He was promi- nently connected with the Underground Rail- road, and was an industrious worker in every enterprise for the improvement of his local- ity. In the fall of 1844 Mr. Wood visited the great commoner Henry Clay at his home in Kentucky, for the purpose of in- fluencing him, if possible, to use his great influence for the emancipation of the slaves (Mr. Clay was a colonizationist). Mr. Wood was present when he received the news of his defeat in that memorable cam- paign by James K. Polk, and he answered that appeal sadly, evidently under the sting of that unexpected defeat: "My dear sir, I have much less influence than some people think." Mr. Wood on his way to Kentucky called upon Governor Thomas Corwin at Columbus, who, learning of his contemplat- ed visit to Mr. Clay, kindly offered him a letter of introduction in which he said: "His character is unimpeached and unimpeach- able." During this interview Mr. Wood related to Mr. Clay the following remarkable incident, which had occurred in North Caro- lina not long before. Mr. Wood having visited the neighborhood was able to vouch for its correctness. The Friends' Church in the slaveholding States was vigorously en- deavoring to rid itself of the crime of slave- holding and was rapidly succeeding, most of that denomination liberating their slaves, sending them north to free States and mak-

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

ing provisions for them there as best they could; but there was one large Quarterly Meeting that had quietly resolved that their slaves were their property, and, let the church say what it would, they would hold on to their slaves.

On the occasion of a meeting at that place the Rev. Aaron Lancaster, paternal grandfather of Elizabeth L. Wood, who had the reputation of being a prophet, came into the meeting unannounced and told them openly what they had secretly resolved, and that "they would become a stench in the. nostiils of the Almighty; and as proof of it there should never be another such meeting held in that house." Without taking his seat after delivering this he left the house, and, mounting his horse, left the neighborhood. Inside of three months the house was de- stroyed by a whirlwind, one solitary sill be- ing all that was left of it on the ground, and one door being found lodged in a pine tree five miles off! Mr. Clay listened to this recital patiently and then quietly remarked that "he expected hurricanes were not un- usual down in the vicinity of old Albemarle sound." Mr. Wood was a remarkable man physically and intellectually. He was six feet in height and in the pioneer lifts of log-roll- ings and house-raisings he was recognized as the stoutest man in the settlement. He had his best hats made to order, his measure around his head being just two feet. The person known as George in Uncle Tom's Cabin was a refugee in the house of Aaron L. Benedict, an uncle of our subject. Daniel Wood and wife had seven children: Sarah (deceased), George J., Thomas E., Samuel (deceased), an infant (deceased), Daniel H. and Esther Tuttle. The latter is now the wife of Calvin H. Pritchard, both ministers in the Friends' Church, stationed

at Kokomo, Indiana. She was the founder and editor of the Friends' Missionary Advo- cate, and was also the leading spirit in the Friends' foreign missionary work of the en- tire Society of Friends. Daniel Wood was a minister in that church for sixty years.

Rev. George J. Wood, the subject of this sketch, assisted in the work of the home farm until twenty-two years of age, and then located on his present place. He arranged with a family to keep house for him until his marriage, which occurred in 1862, to Mary W. Brown, a native of Huron county, Ohio. He taught two successful schools in Cardington township, and, the winter follow- ing, one in his own township of Peru. He spent parts of several years from home, mostly in the States of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, introduc- ing the Kuso and Morehouse patent churns. He was a successful salesman and made sev- eral thousand dollars for himself and his partner. He takes great interest in the work of the Friends' branch of the Christian Church and is an active and trusted member of it. For the two last years past he has been under appointment by Ohio Yearly Meeting as Superintendent of "evangelistic and pastoral work." Two years ago he suc- cessfully executed a commission by the same body as chairman of a committee to secure the passage of an enabling act by the Ohio Legislature legalizing the change of name of the Society of Friends to Friends' Church. He has for a number of years been chair- man of the committee of said yearly meet- ing on education and Scripture schools, and has just recently been elected chairman of an association of the farmers of his township known as the "Farmers' Mutual Associa- tion," which association of farmers, in an intelligent discussion of their interests and

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Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio, Part 46

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