USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 48
USA > Ohio > Morrow County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 48
USA > Ohio > Union County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 48
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trace of. Aaron Benedict was the first per- son buried in the Friends' Cemetery in Peru township, Morrow county. William Bene- dict was married in New York, to Alse Hoag, a native of Grand Isle, in Lake Cham- plain, and a daughter of Daniel and Eliza- beth Hoag, an old and prominent family in New York. Mr. Benedict and wife moved to Ohio in 1812, locating in what was then Brown township, Delaware county, but its name was changed to Bennington township, and still later became Peru township, Mor- row county. One of his brothers, Cyrus Benedict, came to this State in 1810, and his nearest neighbor was at Sunbury, Dela- ware county, ten miles distant. He located · on land which now belongs to Reuben Gard- ner. William Benedict located here with a number of other families. He first built a little log hovel, but later a hewed-log house, located near a spring, took its place, and he afterward erected the frame dwelling which is now the home of our subject. He cleared and improved his place, and was a famous hunter in his day. Mr. and Mrs. Benedict had six children, viz .: Daniel; Phœbe Bar- ber; Elizabeth, deceased; Aaron, the sub- ject of this sketck; Sarah Gray, deceased, and Annie Hyde, a resident of Oregon. The parents were members of the Friends' Church, in which the father served as an Elder. He was an honest, upright man, honored and respected by all who knew him, and was greatly opposed to slavery.
Aaron Benedict, our subject, was born on the farm where he now resides, January 21, 1817. During his youth he saw many Indians, and on one occasion a papoose, tied to a piece of bark, and set down by a tree near his residence. In 1861 Mr. Bene- dict began the cultivation of Italian bees, having followed that occupation ever since,
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and is the best posted man on that question in Central Ohio. He has shipped them to all points, and was the first to introduce Italian bees in the Sandwich Islands. He also published a work on Bee Culture several years ago. Mr. Benedict has now practically retired from the business. He is at present engaged in the wild turkey culture, and has shipped to California, Canada, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania and Louisiana.
In 1846 our subject was united in mar- riage with Caroline Dague, a native of Vir- ginia, and a daughter of John and Jane Dague. To this union were born nine children, six now living: Adessa, wife of Albert Stewart, of Michigan; Mamie Kniffen, now of Bucyrus, Ohio; Direxie, wife of Charles Wood, of Peru township; Lester, of Hancock county, Ohio; William, a resident of Michigan; and Frederick, of Bucyrus, married Dollie Kniffen. Mrs. Benedict departed this life in 1866. Three years afterward our subject married Louisa Meeker, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Davis Meeker, an early pioneer of Mor- row county. They have one son, Preston H., who married Mary Osborn, and has one child. They reside at home. Mr. and Mrs. Benedict are members of the Friends' Church. Mr. Benedict has always taken an active interest in educational matters, and has served as a School Director. He has resided on his present farm for seventy- seven years. In political matters he is a stanch Prohibitionist.
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AJOR CYRUS BARTON AD- AMS, of Delaware, was born in Darbyville, Pickaway county, Ohio, July 4, 1861, and was named for his maternal grandfather, Cyrus
Barton. His father at that time was in the Methodist ministry. The Adams family is of English origin, and was founded in America at a very early day by ancestors who settled in Virginia. The Major's grand- father emigrated to Kentucky about 1800, and about 1815 removed to Madison county, Ohio, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of that community. The maternal ances- tors of Major Adams were among the first settlers of New Amsterdam, now New York, whither they emigrated from Holland. Later they removed to Eastern Pennsyl- vania, where Mrs. Adams was born and lived until her marriage in 1860.
In 1865 the family became residents of Delaware, where the father embarked in the dry-goods business. Later he became a dealer in crockery and queen's-ware. Here, in 1867, Barton entered the public schools, which he attended until in 1878, when he became a student in the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he remained for three years. He was then employed in the book store of Prof. T. C. O'Kane for one year, after which he went to the Northwest in 1882, and engaged in mercantile and rail- road business in Minnesota and Dakota for three years. In the fall of 1885 he returned to Delaware, and was employed by the rail- road company in the freight and passenger departments until appointed Deputy County Treasurer in 1888, by N. P. Ferguson, who was then serving as County Treasurer. He served in that capacity through Mr. Fergu- son's last term and was then re-appointed by that gentleman's successor, Captain Cole. After the Captain's death, which occurred October 8, 1893, he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of eleven months, and in August, 1893, was nominated by ac- clamation at the Republican county conven-
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tion. The Democrats put up no opposing candidate and in November of that year he was elected.
Mr. Adams has always taken great inter- est in military matters, and enlisted as a private of Company K, Fourteenth Regi- ment of Ohio National Guards, when that company was mustered into service Febru- ary 13, 1879. He was afterward made Corporal and Sergeant, and was honorably discharged October 12, 1882 He re-en- listed October 6, 1885, was inade First Lieutenant on the 8th of December of the same year, and promoted to the Captaincy May 23, 1887. He commanded the com- pany for six years, during which time it be- came recognized as one of the best military organizations in Ohio. He was elected Major April 5, 1893, and appointed to command the Third Battalion of the Fourteenth In- fantry, in which position he is now serving.
Major Adams was married October 24, 1889, to Miss Winifred Sheldon, only daughter of the late Captain H. G. Shel- don, a well-known attorney of Delaware. They now have a little daughter three years old. The Major is a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 18, A. F. & A. M .; Delaware Chapter, No. 54, R. A. M .; and of Lenape Lodge, No. 29, K. of P., and the Delaware Division of the Uniformed Rank, of which he was Captain two years. He also be- longs to the Williams Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and is serving on the official board of that society.
ENRY CLARK, a farmer of King- ston township, was born in Dela- ware county, on the 13th of Feb- ruary, 1838, and is a representa- tive of one of its honored pioneer families.
For more than half a century he has wit- nessed its growth and progress, and has aided in its development and advancement. Progressive and public-spirited, he is deeply interested in everything pertaining to its welfare, and is numbered among its valued citizens.
Mr. Clark's parents were Moses and Elizabeth (Fancher) Clark, the foriner a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of this county. Moses Clark first inarried Elizabeth King, and to them were born two sons and a daughter, -David, Elijah and Susanna. In 1837 he wedded Miss Fancher, and they became the parents of four sons and three daughters, namely: Henry; Isaac and Myers, both of whom reside in Morrow county, Ohio; Smith, who is living in Delaware county; Rebecca, who makes her home with Henry; Hannah, wife of George Crist, of Clark county, Iowa; and Nancy, wife of Isaac Snyder, of Santa Clara county, California. The family were Methodists, and were people of prominence in this community. Moses Clark followed farming throughout his entire life. On locat- ing in Harlem township he purchased the farm now owned by C. B. Paul, then a densely wooded tract of land upon which not a furrow had been turned or an improve- ment made. He then cleared and fenced it and successfully operated it until his death. Its boundaries he also extended until it com- prised 300 acres of rich land. He also owned land in Porter township. He died in December, 1856, and was buried on Christ- mas day. The mother of our subject was called to the home beyond in 1862.
Henry Clark was reared to manhood on his father's farm and upon his father's death the management of the business affairs de- volved upon him, as he was the eldest
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child. ` In connection with his brother Isaac he then purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead and for ten years they operated the farm in partnership. On the expiration of that period they divided up the farm they had bought and he is now sole proprietor of a valuable tract of 175 acres which yields to him a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he bestows upon it. All the improvements were placed thereon by him and stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise.
The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Clark was in her maidenhood Miss Susie Finley, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Terrell) Finley, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of New Jersey. The father was a farmer, and in 1814 came to Delaware county where he spent his remain- ing days, his death occurring in 1886, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. His wife, who was born in 1807, also died in the year 1886. They were both earnest Christian people and active workers in the Presby- terian Church, in which they held member- ship. Their children were: Mrs. Clark; Joseph T. and Martha, both deceased; Mary E., wife of William Strain, a resident of Nebraska; and David A., who is living in Delaware.
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Mr. and Mrs. Clark have one child, a daughter, Edna May, who was born on the Ist of May, 1883, and is the life of her parents' home. They, too, hold member- ship with the Presbyterian Church, and are highly respected citizens of the community. Mr. Clark exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican party and has served as Trustee and School Director. He is true to every trust reposed in him, wheth- er public or private, and his life is one well worthy of emulation.
B ENJAMIN FLEMING, a farmer of Lincoln township, was born in Peru township, then Delaware county, December 19, 1820. His father, Isaac Fleming, was born in Penn- sylvania, April 17, 1794, a son of Henry Fleming, who was supposed to have been born in that State. He came to Delaware county, Ohio, in an early day, settling on the banks of Alum creek, in Peru town- ship, where he entered land, built a log cabin, and remained until his death, which occurred in his eightieth year. The mother of our subject, formerly Elizabeth Wyan, was born in Pennsylvania, May 10, 1796. Isaac Fleming and wife were married in Pennsylvania, November 7, 1816, and came to Ohio the same year, locating on Alum creek, Peru township, Delaware county, but a short time afterward located three miles below, on the same creek. Mr. Flem- ing died there at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife departed this life at the age of seventy-four years. They were mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. He was a Democrat in his political views. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Sarah A., born in 1818, died in 1846; Ben- jamin, the subject of this sketch; James, born in 1824, resides in Peru township, Morrow county; Washington, born in 1827, died in 1893; Lydia, born March 27, 1829, deceased; Nelson, born in 1832, lives near Eden, Delaware county; and Sidney, born in 1848, resides on the old homestead in Oxford township, this county. The children were all born on the banks of Alum creek.
Benjamin Fleming, the second child in order of birth, remained at home until his marriage, after which he spent eight years on a farm in Peru township, and then came to his present location. He settled in the
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dense woods, built a log cabin, and improv- ed his land. He now owns 208 acres of land, nearly all of which is under a fine state of cultivation. In his political views, Mr. Fleming was formerly a Democrat, but now casts his vote with the Prohibitionists.
December 25, 1843, he was united in marriage with Hannah A. Worth, born in Maryland, April 13, 1825. Her father, James Worth, was born in that State in December, 1790, and was a miller by trade. Her mother, néc Mary Thatcher, was born in Pennsylvania, September 28, 1791, her father, Jonathan Thatcher, having been a native of the same State, and she was reared a Quaker. James Worth and wife were married in Maryland, March 15, 1815, and came to what is now Morrow county, Ohio, in 1837, spending the remainder of their days in Peru township. The father died in 1845, and the mother in 1861. They were the parents of six children : John W., born in 1815, resides in the West; Joseph M., born in 1817, is deceased; Mary Jane, born in 1821, is the wife of Vinal Thurston, of Peru township; Hannah A., born April 13, 1825, now Mrs. Fleming; and William, born March 26, 1827, resides in Peru town- ship. Our subject and wife have seven children. The eldest, Talitha Jane, is the wife of Henry Wyan, of Lincoln township, and they have two children, -Benjamin A. and Nellie. Judson A., of Peru township, married Elizabeth Jewell, and they have two children, --- Cora and Lorance. Joseph, the third child in order of birth, is deceased. Otterbin L., of Cardington, married Hannah Warner, and has five children, -Binnie, Glenn, Coral, John and Bessie. Lorenzo D. married Letta Mason, and they have three children,-Gertie, Walter and Her- bert. Justin C. married Sadie Shoemaker,
and has two children,-Gavitt and Mame. Mary E. is the wife of Grant Rosevelt. Their three children are : Inez, Walter, and an infant. The family are members of the United Brethren Church.
SA R. SMART, a prominent farmer of Mill Creek township, Union county, Ohio, first saw the light of day in a log cabin in this township, May 4, 1844. He is a son of John S. Smart, one of the early pioneers of the county, now eighty-four years of age and a resident of Marysville. John S. Smart was born in Franklin county, Ohio, where he re- sided until 1819, at that time coming to Mill Creek township and settling on a farm. He married Miss Mary Robinson, daughter of Asa Robinson, one of the early settlers of the county. They made their home on the old farm in Mill Creek township until 1881, when they removed to Marysville. Of their eleven children, eight are. still living, viz. : Catherine Jane, Joseph T., Oliver Perry, Asa R., Isaac, Semantha, Susan S. and Etta. John H., William and Margaret Ann are deceased.
Asa R. was reared to farm life and re- ceived only a common school education. When he was twenty-four years of age he married and settled in Concord township, Delaware county, Ohio, where he remained three years, after which he removed to Mill Creek township, near Watkins, Union coun- ty. Here he has 135 acres of fine farming land, all well improved and under a high state of cultivation. His modern and com- modious residence was built in 1893, at a cost of $2,000, and he also has a large barn, 42 x 62 feet, built on a rock foundation, the whole premises having an air of thrift and
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prosperity. The old log house, however, still stands and is a reminder of the pioneer days and happy times gone by.
Mr. Smart was married November 8, 1868, to Laura A. Edson, a native of Geauga county, Ohio, and a daughter of Levi and Maria (Makepeace) Edson, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Geauga county, Ohio. Her parents are deceased. In their family were five chil- dren: Louisa, Mary, Laura A., Lyman and Lydia. Mr. and Mrs. Smart have four chil- dren: Minnie Belle, Ashton V., Mabel and Maud.
Mr. Smart was reared a Presbyterian and is a member of that church and an Elder in the same. Mrs. Smart was brought up in a Wesleyan Methodist family. Politi- cally Mr. Smart was formerly a Democrat, but of recent years has affiliated with the Prohibition party. He takes a deep inter- est in temperance work and also in religious and educational matters; has served as a member of the School Board. In short, any movement which has for its object the best interests of the community is sure to find in him a hearty supporter.
H. SHAW, a farmer of Westfield township, is a son of John Shaw, born in Pennsylvania, July 6, 1797. He was the youngest son of John Shaw, Sr., who came to Morrow county, Ohio, in 1808, locating on the farm now owned by our subject. At that time he was the only resident of the county. John Shaw, Jr., married Parmelia Messen- ger, who was born in Connecticut, April IO, 1807, and was a school teacher in Del- aware county. Mr. Shaw cleared and im- proved his farm, and in 1834 built the pres- 23
ent brick residence. In addition to general farming he also worked at the cabinet maker's trade. He was a member of the United Brethren Church. In political mat- ters he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. He served as Justice of the Peace and Clerk of his township, and was an active worker in every enterprise for the development of his county. His death oc- curred June 6, 1860, and his wife survived until 1864. John Shaw and wife had the following children: Melvina Parmelia, de- ceased, was the wife of Clinton S. Peck; Chlœ Jane is the wife of Jesse Shaw, of Westfield township, and she was formerly married to John Pringle, now deceased; Elizabeth Lucretia, deceased; Henry John, deceased, married Caroline Lewis; Beulah Ann, wife of William Brenizer, of Carding- ton; Mary Martha, deceased, was the wife of John Clymer; and A. H., the subject of this sketch.
A. H. Shaw was born in his present res- idence, October 14, 1840, on the day Will- iam Henry Harrison was made President of the United States, and his father was Clerk of elections at the time. In 1860 he was united in marriage with Minerva Maxwell, a sister of Johnson Maxwell, whose sketch appears in this work. Her death occurred in December, 1861. In 1863 Mr. Shaw married Martha J. Waltermire, who died January 7, 1874. They had five children. The eldest, Clarence F., born February 5, 1864, married Coral Sloan, and resides on the home farm; they have one child, Leman. Maggie Parmelia, born June 14, 1865, is the wife of Florence Reed, and resides in Van Wert county, Ohio; their three children are Ethel, Bertha and Ivy. Melvina Estella, born December 12, 1866, married Rolvin Maxwell, and has four children, -Vesta
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May, Harrison J., Nellie R., and Maggie B. Valura Belle was born January 20, 1868; and Bryant Clay was born November 25, 1872. Mr. Shaw was married the third time, July 15, 1875, to Margaretta Martin, who was born in Westfield township, Mor- row county, January 2, 1848, a daughter of B. U. and Mary (Hannah) Martin. The father now resides in the village of West- field. Mrs. Shaw taught school one term before her marriage.
Mr. Shaw now owns a fine farm of 245 acres, all of which is under a fine state of cultivation. He affiliates with the Repub- lican party, and has served as Trustee of Westfield township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are members and active workers in the United Brethren Church, and the latter is a teacher in the Sunday-school.
J B. McCLOUD, who resides on a farm near Marysville, Ohio, is a native of Union county and one of its enterprising citizens. He was born in Union township, on his father's farm, July 24, 1855, and is a son of James McCloud, deceased, who was for many years a prominent resident of this county. James McCloud was born in Delaware county, Ohio, son of John McCloud, a descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestry; was reared and educated in Union county, mar- ried Mrs. Malinda (Converse) Bigelow, widow of A. R. Bigelow. He was in the army, where he lost his health. He was a successful farmer, served as a Justice of the Peace, and was a man of great usefulness in his community, taking an active part in church and lodge work. He was a Metho- dist and served for a number of years as Sabbath-school Superintendent. A charter
member of Darby Lodge, No. 636, I. O. O. F., at Milford Centre, he passed all its chairs and was a member for twenty years. His widow is now a resident of Milford Centre. Of her children we record that she had two by her first husband, -A. R. Bigelow, Jr., and a daughter, the latter deceased. By Mr. McCloud she had five children, namely: Jerry B., the subject of this sketch; Nina R., wife of G. F. Morse, Garnett, Kansas; the next born were twins, one of which died in infancy, the other, Mamie M., now being the wife of L. H. Elliott, of Union township, this county; and Etta, who died at the age of two years.
J. B. McCloud spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, receiving his educa- tion in the district schools and at Dela- ware. When he was twenty-three years of age he went to Anderson county, Kan- sas, where he settled on a tract of wild land and developed a farm, remaining there six years. At the end of that time he sold out and returned to Ohio, and the follow- ing six years he spent on the home farm. Then for two years he was at Milford Centre, employed as a photographer, after which he purchased the farm on which he now resides, 100 acres formerly known as the Joe Powers farm. On this place are good farm buildings, fences, etc., and every thing conveniently arranged for successful farming. In addition to his agricultural pursuits, Mr. McCloud also does consider- able business in photography, making a specialty of outside work, groups and rural views.
Mr. McCloud was married November 24, 1875, to Miss Lavinia Brobeck, daughter of Joseph and Chloe Brobeck, now in Kansas. Mrs. McCloud was a teacher before her marriage. They have had seven children,
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of whom four are living: Frank, Ethel, Nina and Lena. The others, Ney, Willie and Earl, died in early childhood, the last two dying of membranous croup and within a week of each other.
Mr. McCloud is a Republican and an Odd Fellow. He is a member of Darby Lodge, No. 636, I. O. O. F., of Milford Centre and Marysville Encampment, No. 114, in which he has passed all the chairs. Mrs. McCloud is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.
J UDGE W. D. MATHEWS, a farmer of section 31, Gilead township, is a son of William Mathews, born in Wyandot county, Ohio, in 1817. His father, Isaac Mathews, was a native of Virginia, and a soldier in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject, formerly Re- becca Marlow, was also born in Virginia, a daughter of Jeremiah Marlow, an early set- tler of Richland county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. William Mathews were married in Richland county, three miles west of Mans- field, and located on an unimproved farm in Hardin county. Isaac Mathews entered a large tract of land in that county, with the intention of giving each of his sons a farm of eighty acres. William Mathews improved his place, and remained there until the failing of his wife's health made it necessary for them to change their resi- dence, and they removed to near Mansfield, again settling on his grandfather's old farm. He afterward purchased land two and a half miles north of Lexington, remaining there until 1865, when he sold that place and purchased a farm in Troy township, Mor- row county. His death occurred in 1871.
His widow lived with her children until her death in 1883. William Mathews and wife had two children, -Martha J., wife of A. Whissemore, of Mansfield, and they have two children; and W. D., the subject of this sketch. The parents were members and active workers in the Presbyterian Church, both grandfathers having been Elders in that church. William Mathews was first a Whig, and afterward a Repub- lican.
Judge W. D. Mathews was born in a log cabin located in a cornfield in Richland county, Ohio, three miles east of Mansfield, September 6, 1844. He completed the studies in the district school, and then at- tended Lexington Seminary, under Professor Gailey. During that time the war broke out, and in June, 1862, Mr. Mathews be- came a member of Company B, Eighty- seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was under General Miles at the battle and sur- render of Harper's Ferry, was captured, paroled, and returned home. In 1863 he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as Sergeant, assisted in the capture of John Morgan in Ohio, as- sisted in the capture of Cumberland Gap, and garrisoned it until the expiration of his term of service. In 1864 Mr. Mathews helped recruit a company in Richland coun- ty, and was mustered into service as First Lieutenant of Company G, One Hundred and Seventy-eighth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He did guard duty at Tullahoma, Tennessee, up to the time of the battles of Franklin and Nashville. They then moved to Murfreesboro, where they had almost daily skirmishes with Forest's men in order to secure corn for rations. While at Tulla- homa Mr. Mathews was detailed on a gen- eral court martial, and when the regiment
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