USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 53
USA > Ohio > Morrow County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 53
USA > Ohio > Union County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 53
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MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
Benedict, of Cardington township, this county, aged seventy-eight; Daniel, aged seventy-six; Maria, deceased; Julia Ann Alter, deceased; Almira Cushman, of Wis- consin; Mary Jane Aldrich, of Kansas; and Amanda Aldrich, also of Kansas. Mrs. Cady was born December 20, 1813, and until she was fifteen years of age lived near Poughkeepsie. In January, 1831, she be- came the wife of Leander Benson, a native of New York, and they came to Ohio in 1831 and settled on the farm where she still lives. Here she has resided for sixty-three years. Mr. Benson died February 14, 1856. They had eight children, only three of whom are now living, viz: Henry G., who is married, has two children, and lives in Colo- rado; Nelson, of Ashley, Ohio, has a wife and two children; and Adeline Ashley, who also has two children. Mrs. Cady's son Nelson served in the late war, as also did two of Mr. Cady's sons, Norman and Myron.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Cady have for years been members of the Christian Church, and he is a Deacon in the same. Politically he is a Prohibitionist. He has served as School Director and Township Trustee.
VAN SHAW, whose post-office ad- dress is Marysville, Ohio, is one of the respected farmers of his com- munity and is a member of one of the prominent families of Union county.
Mr. Shaw was born in Maryland, Decem- ber 8, 1840, son of Harrison and Ann (Hutchins) Shaw, natives of Maryland, the father of Scotch descent. In 1843 the Shaw family came west to Ohio, making the journey with teams and bringing with them their household goods. That winter they spent at Marysville, and in the spring they
located what is now known as the Dines farm, north of Marysville. Later on they removed to Paris township and took up their abode on a farm located near the new turnpike, re- maining there until 1860, when they removed to another farm in the same township, but located on the Kenton road, and there the parents passed the residue of their lives. The father died December 28, 1885, at the age of seventy-two years, the mother hav- ing passed away fifteen months before, at the age of seventy-five. They had nine children, of whom seven reached maturity, namely: Amanda Beard, Emily Wiley, Morgan, Evan, Oliver, Hutchins and Mary Knutts. Mary is one of triplets, the other two dying in infancy. While in Maryland, the father of this family kept a tavern, but after coming to Ohio he gave his attention to farming and stock-raising. By trade he was a blacksmith. The mother was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and both were most highly respected and esteemed for their many excellent qualities.
Evan Shaw was three years old at the time they emigrated from Maryland to this State, and on his father's farm he grew up, receiving his education in the . common schools and in the practical school of ex- perience. When he was twenty-four he left the parental home, married, and settled in Taylor township. In 1881 he came to his present farm in Liberty township. Here he has ninety acres of choice land and is en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising. His farm is well improved with comfortable residence and other good farm buildings, and here he is surrounded with all the com- forts of life, his earnest efforts being attend- ed with inerited success.
Mr. Shaw was married January 29, 1865, in Taylor township, this county, to Maria
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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.
Jane Coder, who was born in Paris town- ship, Union county, Ohio, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Coder. She is the oldest of a family of five children, the others being: Simon, James, Joanna, Emily C. Her parents also have an adopt- ed son, D. H. McCormack, who still lives with them. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have nine children, as follows: Martha E., Arthur, Anna L., Jacob W., Harrison, Mary Ida, Jennie, Eva, and Georgia. All are at home except Martha E., who is the wife of a Mr. Gourman and who lives in Paris township, this county.
Like his father before him, Mr. Shaw is Democratic in his political views.
HOMAS A. WOOD, a prominent farmer of Gilead township, Mor- row county, is a son of Jonathan Wood, born in New York, Sep- tember 1, 1801. He was a son of Jona- than and Rachel (White) Wood. Jonathan, Sr., was a son of Daniel and Susannah (Chase) Wood.
John Wood, the first American ancestor and a Quaker, emigrated to America about 1635 or 1636, crossing the Atlantic prob- ably in the ship Hopewell, from London, which arrived September 1I, of the latter year. At this time he was twenty-six years of age, and was married. After the death of his first wife he married again, and alto- gether he had seven children. His son William married Miss Martha Earl, daugh- ter of Ralph and Joan Earl, and had ten children. Their son Jonathan was born May 22, 1697, married Peace Davis, August 12, 1724, and they were both Quaker preachers. They had five children, of whom Daniel was born November 14, 1729.
He married Susannah Chase, a daughter of Stephen and Esther Chase, July 30, 1752, and had five children. Of these, Jonathan (grandfather of the subject of this sketch), was born at Dartmouth, Massachusetts, February 9, 1760, married Rachel White at Nine Partners, New York, in 1784, came to Ohio in 1817, first settling in Delaware county, near South Woodbury, and a year afterward in Marion county, same State, two miles south of Mount Gilead, where he died May 7, 1838. His wife, born January 18, 1764, died September 26, 1824. They had twelve children. Of these, Jonathan (father of our subject), was born in Peru, Clinton county, New York, September 1, 1801; and February 23, 1824, married Mary Ashton, in Columbiana county, Ohio, and died November 25, 1863, and his wife Feb- ruary 8, 1873.
The Wood family, of course, have been exemplary members of society. Ex-Sena- tor Chase, of Rhode Island, and ex-Senator Eaton both married members of this noble family. Mary Dyer, one of the ancestors and a Quaker minister, was put to death in the time of Governor John Endicott, of Massachusetts, for asserting her rights as a Quaker in that colony. The perpetrators of this deed were Puritans, who had first fled from England to Leyden, Holland, to escape the persecution of Queen Mary, and in 1620 came to Plymouth to carry on a persecution just as unreasonable as that from which they had fled.
After marriage, Jonathan Wood and wife located on the farm now owned by our sub- ject. Although poor financially, he was an energetic and hard-working man, and took an active part in the development of his county. With the exception of a few years in Columbiana county, they spent their
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MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
lives here. They were the parents of six children, namely: Thomas A., the subject of this sketch; Stephen A., of Cardington; Rachel Ann, wife of James W. Vaugher, of Lincoln township; Griffith L., a resident of Mount Gilead; Lindley H., also of that city; and Lamira W .. , wife of Harry W. Collins, who resides in Franklin county, Kansas.
Thomas A. Wood was born in Columbi- ana county, Ohio, December 3, 1826, and was brought to this county when an infant. He was reared to manhood on the place he now owns, and received his education in the district schools, and at the Hesper Seminary, near South Woodbury, Morrow county. From 1851 to 1864 he resided in Harmony township, and since 1864 has been a perma- nent resident of Gilead township. He owns seventy-three acres of land, fifty acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation.
Mr. Wood was married September 1, 1847, to Rhoda Vaughan, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, February 19, 1828, a daughter of James and Rhoda (Cobb) Vaughan, natives of Virginia, the father born January 17, 1780, and the mother September 30, 1790. They came to Ohio, and were married in Columbiana county, August 29, 1822. In 1839 they made a permanent settlement in Gilead township; the father dying here December 12, 1859, and the mother July 20, 1877. They were the parents of seven children, five now living: Rebecca T., widow of William B. Kirk, and a resident of New Sharon, Iowa; Johanna, wife of Stephen Gardner, of Cottage Grove, Union county, Indiana; Rho da, wife of our subject; Joseph, of this township; and Lindley J., a resident of Gilead township. The parents were members and active workers in the Friends'
Church. Thomas Wood and wife have had five children, namely: Reuben E., born June 23, 1849, married Elvira Milligan, resides in Union county, Iowa, and has three children; Marietta, born August 15, 1853, died at the age of nine years; Louisa T., born December 11, 1857, is the wife of Alfred H. Brease, of Mount Gilead, and they have six children; Harriet M., born October 22, 1862, is the wife of Fred R. Hathaway, of Lenawee county, Michigan, and has one child; and Caroline T., born July 3, 1867, is the wife of LeRoy W. Furby, of Gilead township. They also have one child. The family are members of the Friends' Church. Mr. Wood is a member of the Republican party.
J OHN A. SHOEMAKER has the honor of being a native of Delaware county and is numbered among its leading and representative citizens. He was born on the 22d of September, 1856, near Ashley, and is a son of Frank and Chloe (Smith) Shoemaker, a sketch of whom appears below. With the usual experiences of farin life he grew to manhood, and on attaining the proper age, he entered the public schools, where he manifested special aptitude for his studies until at the early age of seventeen he was fitted for the pro- fession of teaching and took charge of his first school. He was very successful in this profession, which he continued to follow through each winter season until called to public office, the last two years of his school work being Superintendent of the schools at Ostrander, Ohio. He also attended Normal school in Worthington, Ohio, for two terms, defraying his expenses with money earned
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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.
in teaching. In the fall of 1887 he was nominated and elected to the office of County Clerk, his ability and worth being recognized by. his fellow citizens, and that their confi- dence was not misplaced was shown by his faithful and prompt performance of duty. So well did he administer the affairs of the office that he was re-elected in the autumn of 1890, and on the expiration of his second term, he was appointed by the County Com- missioners for a short term of six months. At the election to his second term he ran ahead of his ticket in all but two precincts in the county, -a fact which certainly indicates great personal popularity and the high re- gard in which he is held by those who know him. He is a warm advocate of the princi- ples of the Republican party and does all in his power to advance its interests and insure its success.
On the 5th of September, 1888, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Shoemaker and Miss Carrie, the accomplished daughter of William H. and Mary (Richey) Loveless, at New Dover, Union county, Ohio, and their union is blessed with two children who are yet living, -Mary and Grace, while they lost one in infancy. This worthy couple have a wide acquaintance throughout the county and in social circles hold an enviable position where true worth and intelligence are received as the passports into good society. Having always taken an active in- terest in the educational affairs of his native county, in the year 1888 Mr. Shoemaker was appointed School Examiner for the city of Delaware for the period of three years, and his reappointment in 1891 and again in 1894 are evidence of his qualifications for the office which he is still filling.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker are inem- bers of Williams Street Methodist Episcopal
Church of Delaware, Ohio, and have been for several years.
On retiring to private life in 1894, Mr. Shoemaker formed a partnership with Will- iam H. H. Wood and embarked in the grocery business, which he is now carrying on with good success, having, by fair and honest dealing and an earnest desire to please his customers, won a liberal patron- age, of which he is well deserving. He also owns a finely improved farm in Oxford township, Delaware county, comprising 106 acres of rich and valuable land, and this adds materially to his income. He possesses good business ability and is a pleasant, genial man and good citizen, whose friends in the community are many. Socially he is connected with the Odd Fellows' lodge of Ashley, Ohio, and has passed all its chairs. He also holds membership with Lenape Lodge, No. 29, K. P., of Delaware, and is now the Keeper of Records and Seals in that order, a position which he has filled for four years.
Frank Shoemaker, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, is a well-known and prosperous farmer of Delaware county, liv- ing near Leonardsburg, and is the fourth son in a family of seven children. He was born in Delaware county, November 17, 1833, and is a son of John Shoemaker, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, born in 1801. During his childhood days he accompanied his parents to Ohio, where in the usual manner of farmer lads he was reared, and his early experiences in the Ohio wilds were the privations that usually beset the path of the pioneer. He wedded Jane Jenkins, a native of Virginia, born in 1809, who removed to Ohio early in the present century. While yet in the prime of life, John Shoemaker was killed by a falling
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MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
tree, after which his widow, by her own labor and the income derived from the small farm, supported her children, rearing them to maturity.
Frank Shoemaker was the only son and in consequence many duties and cares de- volved upon his young shoulders. He aided his mother in the operation of the home farm and worked for others, giving his wages for the support of the family until his mar- riage, which was celebrated on the 18th of November, 1855, the lady of his choice be- ing Miss Chloe Smith, who was a daughter of Almond and Maria (Rodman)Smith. Her father died when she was quite young, and her mother, being left alone with a large family to support, had recourse to weaving, which she followed steadily for many years. Mrs. Shoemaker was born in Delaware coun- ty November 5, 1836, and by her marriage has had five children, -John A .; Orrie E., now the wife of John C. Jones; Della C., wife of Wellington C. Whipple; Oscar W., who married Maggie Williams; and Guy C., who completes the family.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Shoe- maker was in very limited circumstances, but was hopeful and ambitious, and a busy life has brought him a comfortable compe- tence. For several years he supported his family by day's labor. His work was in- terrupted in 1862, when he enlisted in the Union army for three years' service as a a member of Company C, Eighty-eighth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. When the war was over he returned to his home and purchased a farm, since which time he has carried on agricultural pursuits. He now lives one mile north of Eden Station, where he has a pleasant home. For many years he and his wife have been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, are sin-
cere Christian people, faithful workers in the Master's vineyard. He is one of the unswerv- ing Republicans of the county, and a public- spirited, ·progressive citizen, in whom the best interests of the community find a friend.
DAM KRATT, who standsas a rep- resentative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Mor- row county, Ohio, is one of the substantial and progressive farmers of West- field township. His father, the late Chris- topher Kratt, was a native of Baden, Ger- many, and he grew to manhood in the fatherland, being reared to farm life. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Christina Krouse, and she likewise was a native of Baden, Germany, where she re- mained until she had attained mature years. The parents came to America about 1830 and were married here, after which they settled near Chillicothe, Ohio, where the father was employed in a factory about six years. In 1837 they came to that part of Delaware county which is now incorporated in the county of Morrow, and here the father entered claim to ninety-two acres of Government land, the same being entirely unreclaimed and heavily wooded. He paid for his land at the rate of $1.25 per acre. On this farm he erected a log cabin and then set valiantly to work to clear and improve his farm, subsequently adding forty-five acres to his place. In 1861 he erected the present residence. His death occurred Sep- tember 23, 1875, and at the time he had brought the farm up to the present high state of cultivation. The mother of our subject is still living, at the venerable age of eighty-three years.
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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.
Christopher and Christina Kratt became the parents of eight children, of whom seven lived to attain mature years. Of the chil- dren we offer the following brief record: Amena is the deceased wife of Monroe Orcut; Catherine is deceased; Ann is the widow of the late Alpheus Schofield and is the mother of three children; Maggie is the wife of Joel Shaw and they have two daugh- ters; Elizabeth is the wife of F. B. Shaw and is the mother of three children; Jacob enlisted for service in the late war of the Rebellion, entering the Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and while with the same met his death at Arkansas Post; Adam, sub- ject of this review, is the youngest of the family. The parents early identified them- selves with the Lutheran Church and were zealous workers in the same. In politics the father was a Democrat
Adam Kratt, subject of this sketch, was born October 3, 1848, on the old homestead where he now lives, and he received his edu- cational discipline in the district schools. After the death of his father he assumed the management of the home farm, which he now owns. He has added to the same until he is now the proprietor of 266 acres, all in one body and all improved. He has done much in the way of rebuilding and in making the permanent improvements about the place substantial and well kept, while he has also cleared and brought into cultiva- tion a large part of his fine place. He has about six acres of fine orchard and devotes considerable attention to the raising of graded stock.
In December, 1873, Mr. Kratt was united in marriage to Miss Sarah B. Phillipy, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of the late John Phillipy. Our subject and his wife are the parents of two children: Harley
J., born September 23, 1875, and Chloe Belle, born May 15, 1883.
Fraternally Mr. Kratt is prominently identified with the Masonic order, retaining a membership in Cardington Lodge, No. 384, and Mount Gilead Chapter, No. 84. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., Cardington Lodge, No. 194, in which he has passed all the chairs, and of Ashley En- campment, No. 125. The list of his frater- nal affiliations is completed in his retaining a membership in the Royal Arcanum at Cardington. He has been one of the most zealous and progressive workers in further- ing educational interests, and has been School Director for many years, being the present incumbent in that office. His inter- est in the work is unflagging and he is recog- nized as the prime factor in promoting the educational advantages in his township. Politically Mr. Kratt is an ardent supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and he has taken an active part in the local councils of the organization.
A man of marked intellectual force, care- ful and conscientious in all his dealings, and charitable and kind hearted, he is not only one of the most prominent men in West- field township, but one honored and esteemed by all. -
a HARLES S. CHAPMAN, cashier of the People's Bank of Marysville, Ohio, is one of the prominent and highly respected citizens of Union county.
Mr. Chapman traces his ancestry back to Benjamin Chapman, who was a native of Southington, Connecticut, born February 22, 1761, the son of a minister (Congrega- tional, it is supposed) and slaveholder. This
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MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
Benjamin Chapman was married September 25, 1792, in Connecticut, to Miss Silvia Upson, also a native of Southington, the date of her birth being October 12, 1773. About 1802 or 1804 the Chapman family came to Ohic with a colony under Colonel James Kilbourn, the colony being composed of Episcopalians and Colonel Kilbourn its first minister. The Chapmans, who were Presbyterians, took the place in the com- pany of a family which failed to emigrate, and they settled on the west side of the Ol- entangy river, about three miles above Worthington. On a farm at that place Benjamin Chapman and his wife passed the rest of their days. He died March 7, 1823, and she survived him a number of years. They had a family of children as follows: Roswell R .; Albert, M. D., who practiced his profession in Franklin county, Ohio, for many years, died at the age of eighty-nine; Mary, wife of Dixon Mitchell, died in Union county; Sarah, wife of Aaron Mitchell, died in Logan county; Henry, a steamboat cap- tain on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, died in Van Buren, Arkansas; Lucinda, wife of Aaron Mitchell, died in Columbus, Ohio; Sylvia, died at De Groff, Ohio; and Harriet, wife of Ira Reynolds, died in Seneca county, Ohio.
Roswell Riggs Chapman, the oldest of this family and the grandfather of the gen- tleman whose name heads this sketch, was born in Bandford, Massachusetts, Septem- ber 21, 1798, and was a small child when he came with his parents to Ohio. He en- listed in Captain Levi Pinney's company in the war of 1812, served as a musician, be- coming fife major of his regiment, and was taken prisoner by the British at Detroit, upon the surrender of that post by General Hull. After his return he engaged as clerk for the
Scioto Company in their store, subsequently forming a partnership in the dry-goods, gro- cery and general produce business with his uncle, Dr. Daniel Upson. In the spring of 1816 he married Miss Phoebe Stansbery, who was born in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, March 1, 1798. His health failed in 1826, and in 1827, being threatened with consump- tion he went South, thinking to derive benefit from the change. The disease had too strong a hold upon him, and he died on a steamner December 13, 1827, and was buried at Natchez, Mississippi. His wife, Phæbe Stansbery, was the only child of Judge Recompense Stansbery, who emigrated to Ohio in 1810, coming through Pennsylvania, down the Ohio river on a flat-boat, and up the Muskingum as far as Zanesville, thence by wagon to Granville, in what is now Lick- ing county, Ohio, and across the country to Worthington. Between the latter points there was then no road, and he was com- pelled to clear his way with an axe. Mr. Stansbery occupied a prominent position in the new settlement. In .1814 he was ap- pointed Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He was also Justice of the Peace, and in that capacity married many of the early settlers. He was for twenty- five years Postmaster at Worthington; was a large land-holder and stock owner, having at one time 1,200 sheep, when the region was yet thickly infested with wolves. He died in 1843. Roswell R. Chapman and his wife were the parents of five children, namely : John O., a farmer of Jasper county, Iowa; Eliza, widow of Dr. Peter Goble, Tulare, California; Mary, deceased, wife of Jacob Haas, of Pekin, Illinois; Al- bert S., the father of our subject; and Delia, deceased, wife of Dr. Francis Upson, Los Angeles, California. After the death
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DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.
of her husband, Phœbe Chapman became the wife of Dr. Arius Kilbourn. He died September 2, 1865, and she passed away March 4, 1878.
Albert S. Chapman was born at Worth- ington, Ohio, April 26, 1823. At the age of eighteen he began reading medicine and teaching school, was afterward engaged in business at various places until 1855, when, on account of failing health, he sought out- door employment and gave his attention to farming. In 1870 he located a second time at Marysville, entering into partner- ship with his son in the agricultural imple- ment business. In 1875 he formed a partnership with John S. Fleck for the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds, and dealing in lumber, under the firm name of Fleck & Chapman, which association con- tinued until 1893, since which time he has been retired, still making his home in Marysville. He was married when twenty- two years of age, to Miss Eveline M. Couch, of Springfield, Ohio, and they be- came the parents of three children: Charles Stansbery, subject of this review; Frank, who died at the age of five years; and Min- nie, who became the wife of A. J. Reich- erts, Delaware, Ohio, died in 1872, leaving one child. Mrs. Chapman died August 30, 1892, at the age of seventy-two years.
Charles S. Chapman was born in New- ton, Union county, Ohio, November 15, 1846, and was educated at Worthington. After he had attained his majority he was for three years engaged in the agricultural implement business with his father, at Marysville. Since the organization of the People's Bank of Marysville, in 1874, he has been its cashier, serving most efficiently in this responsible position. Both he and his father helped to organize this bank.
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