USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > Pioneer period and pioneer people of Fairfield County, Ohio > Part 13
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Joseph and Christopher, sons by the second mar- riage of Nicholas Beery, married sisters by the name of Miller, came to Fairfield and settled on lower Rush Creek. Margaret married a Mr. Kechler and lived on Raccoon in Rush Creek township. Fanny mar- ried Mr. Joseph Hite, of Walnut township. His old farm is now owned by Kemp Brothers, at Thurston.
This completes such record as we are able to give of the Nicholas Beery family, one of the largest fam- ilies ever known in the county, and second to none in sterling worth and good citizenship. Their descend- ants still fill a large space in this county and are num- bered by hundreds, and in every western State Beerys
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are to be found or some of their collateral relatives. Daniel, Frederick, Lewis and George Beery, Berne township people, and Samuel, Abraham and Christian Beery, old Lancaster residents, were relatives of the Nicholas Beery family and highly respected people. Abraham was Mayor of Lancaster and father of Dr. George Beery.
THE ASHBROOK FAMILY
The valley of Virginia gave to Fairfield County many distinguished and honored citizens ; but that val- ley was not alone in furnishing emigrants to Ohio and Fairfield County in particular. Hampshire County, in the valley of the south branch of Potomac, gave us the Ashbrook, Peters and Claypool families, as distin- guished and as highly respected as any that adorn the annals of our county. The first Peters of which we have record, was born October 27, 1749. His wife was born October 27, 1759. They were the parents of Mrs. Aaron Ashbrook and the late Jonathan Peters. They lived to a great age. Jonathan and Gershom were their sons, both highly respected and intelligent men. They spent the latter years of their life in this county. Jonathan lived on the old David Pence farm, in Rich- land township. One of his daughters is the wife of William Friend. A son, Edward, lives in the same vicinity. Gershom reared a large family, living at one time in sight of Columbus, where Orrin Peters was born. One son is an attorney at Princeton, Illinois. Moore and Orrin are wealthy manufacturers of Cin- cinnati. Orrin married Miss Eckert, of this city. Both are well known. A sister of these gentlemen, Deborah, was the mother of an esteemed citizen of Amanda township. John Quincy Adams Blue. J. Q. A. Blue married a Galligher, a connection of the Robinson Pe-
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ters family, but in no way related to his mother. His son, George, married a daughter of Henry Reber. Her mother was an Allen, daughter of Howard Allen, who married a Leist. Abigail Peters married Aaron Ash- brook. The Ashbrook family has been traced to Eng- land and back into the misty past. There is a legend that long ago a gentleman walking upon the banks of a brook noticed a small boy standing near an ash tree. He inquired his name but the little fellow did not know it. He had compassion upon him, giving him the name of Ashbrook, certainly beautiful, appropriate and well chosen, and as such it has come down the centuries. Aaron Ashbrook was born in Hampshire county, Vir- ginia, January 7, 1780. Abigail Peters, his wife, was born in the same county January 7, 1782. They were married December 22, 1800. Two children were born to them in Virginia. About the year 1805 they came to Ohio, by wagon and settled in Pleasant township. Their old home stood on the bluff between the resi- dence of James Hampson and John M. Ashbrook. There they lived a quiet life, rearing a large family of children and died at a good old age. They lived to see their children well established in life, honored and respected by their neighbors and fellow citizens. They were distinguished members of the old school Baptist church at Pleasant Run and Aaron Ashbrook was always a conspicuous figure in that congregation. As were his sons John and Tunis after him. Aaron Ash- brook was at the time of his death 85 years of age and his wife Abigail died at the great age of 94 years.
Aaron Ashbrook had three brothers, Rev. Eli who lived in Licking county, and one of whose sons is a prominent business man of Newark, and a son-in-law of the Rev. George DeBolt, the pioneer Baptist
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preacher. Thomas and William were the names of his other brothers. Thomas lived in Pickaway county until about 44 years of age, when he moved to Illinois. He was a fine man and a favorite with his relatives.
William Ashbrook lived first in Pleasant township, but moved later to Amanda township where he died. His wife was Amelia Peters, sister of Mrs. Aaron Ash- brook and Mrs. Blue. Both lived to a good old age. Their sons were Absalom, Mahlon, Edward and Wil- liam.
Absolom is dead. He was a farmer in Amanda township. Edward is still living in Amanda township at the age of 82 years. Mahlon lives in St. Joseph, Mo., at the age of 86 years. William lives in Ashville, Pickaway County, Ohio .*
Ira and William, sons of William, are farmers near Cedar Hill, this county, Samuel, their brother, is a grain dealer of Circleville, Ohio.
George A., son of Absolom, is a farmer in Pickaway County. Frank, another son is a farmer in Bloom township. Monroe and John, sons of Absalom, reside in Kansas.
James, a son of Edward Ashbrook, is a popular merchant at Newark, Ohio. Thomas M., a brother, is an implement man of Somerset, Ohio.
E. L. Ashbrook, the popular young Republican of Amanda township, resides on the old homestead with his father. Mrs. L. D. Cole, daughter of Edward, lives in Columbus.
There were three sisters in this family, Minerva, Ivy and Cecelia.
Benjamin T. Dunnick, of Pickaway County, mar- ried Minerva. She is living with a daughter Ivy at
* The three brothers died recently at their respective homes.
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East Ringgold. Their daughter, Amelia, is the wife of James M. Steward, a farmer and breeder of Marcy, Ohio.
Daniel R. Kellerman, at one time a prominent farmer of Amanda township, married Ivy. They reared a large family of children and gave them a good education. Prof. Kellerman, of the Ohio University, is their son. One son is a Universalist preacher. Some years since D. R. Kellerman and some of his sons moved to near Humboldt, Kansas, where Kellerman recently died. Their youngest daughter, Dory, married a Williamson, and lives in Bluffton, Indiana.
Benjamin Bowman married Cecilia, and moved to the state of Illinois.
Of the Peters family there were several sons, viz. : Jonathan, Gershom, Rev. Mahlon, John, Tunis, Rev. James and Absolom and four sisters, Katy, Abigail, Deborah and Amelia. Most of them lived to a great age, filling out honorable and useful positions in life. Their descendants are scattered far and wide, and but few of them are known to each other. Gershom was for some years Associate Judge of Franklin County. During at least a part of their lives the Peters brothers lived in Pickaway and Franklin Counties.
Aaron Ashbrook's children were: Tunis P., Fan- nie, John M., James A., Katherine. Eli P., Deborah. Amelia, Adaline, who died young.
Tunis Peters Ashbrook was born December 19. 1801, in Hampshire County, Virginia. He received such education as the new Ohio country afforded. He married Anna, daughter of David Pence and granddaughter of Emanuel Ruffner. Their children are Aaron P. Ashbrook, of Kansas; Mrs. Noah Mc- Naughten, of Massachusetts; Mrs. John Hill, of
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Pleasantville; Mrs. Emanuel Kraner, of Pleasant- ville; Mrs. Sain, now of Parsons, Kansas; and Mrs. Thomas McNaughten, of Pleasantville.
Tunis P. Ashbrook was a fine farmer, an intelligent and upright citizen, respected and honored by all who knew him. He divided a handsome estate among his children. He belonged to a lovely and affectionate family. It used to be said that the Ashbrooks shook hands if they met twice in the same day. Tunis died March 6, 1866, aged 64 years. A finer looking gentle- man than T. P. Ashbrook seldom visited Lancaster. His face was an index to his character. John M. Ash- brook was born January 2, 1809. He married Katha- rine Armstrong, of Lancaster. She is living at Gen- eva, Nebraska, in her 81st year.
John M., was a live, competent business man and a good farmer. He ran a whiskey distillery for a good many years with some success. He owned and tilled for years large tracts of land. His wealth at one time was estimated at $125,000. He was a liberal man, hospitable and kind, and his money was freely spent. His house was the home of Baptist preachers for forty years and Baptist people, and the latch string was out to all comers. His house was a free hotel, always full. His hospitality was unbounded. The writer can say what he was too generous to admit, he was greatly imposed upon. He was a public spirited citizen in the best sense of the word. He, with David Huber, pro- jected the Pleasantville Academy, and carried it to com- pletion. In this he took great interest, for he was the friend of education and had a local pride in securing the Academy. The meeting of citizens in Pleasantville, which gave the project endorsement and insured suc-
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cess, was called by Eli P. Ashbrook. This meeting was addressed by Dr. A. P. Miller, Col. J. M. Connell, Hon. C. D. Martin, J. C. Hite, and Judge G. Peters. A good brick building was soon built and Prof. Freed and others have distinguished themselves there and edu- cated many young men. P. S. Wiseman was chair- man.
Having succeeded so well in securing an Academy for Pleasantville, he became intoxicated with success and local pride. We must have a railroad, he said, and he and David Huber went to work. He headed the subscription by thousands, and became responsible for rights of way and other matters and took contracts and involved himself in many ways for many thousands of dollars, all of which, he eventually paid with his hard earned dollars. No man ever worked with greater en- thusiasm than did John M. Ashbrook for this railroad. He believed that it would be a paying investment. Be- sides the loss of thousands of dollars, he gave two years of his time to this road, for which he did not receive a penny. It was sad to see a noble, generous, unselfish, enthusiastic, hopeful, energetic man like John M. Ash- brook go down. He did not survive the disaster more than three or four years. He closed up his railroad matters, paid his debts, gathered his family together and turned his face toward the West, and resolutely sought a new home among strangers. The place he loved, to which he had given his time and fortune, he was to see no more. Home, the graves of his father, friends and neighbors were henceforth to be but a memory. He died August 17, 1885, aged 76 years. He has a son in Hebron, Nebraska, O. A. Ashbrook, who married a daughter of Thomas Duncan. He is now postmaster of Hebron, Nebraska. John, a brother,
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is a citizen of Geneva, Nebraska. He is now a soldier at Manilla in the First Nebraska Regiment. James and Levi live in Denver, Colorado. Wm. Stewart married Blanche and lives in Geneva, Nebraska. He is assistant cashier of a bank.
Rev. Wesley Brandt married Jennie, one of the daughters, and lives in the West. Anna lives with her mother in Geneva, Nebraska.
Mrs. Jacob Ulrick, of this city, was the wife and widow of Tunis, a son of J. M. Ashbrook. He died of disease contracted in the army.
John and Tunis Ashbrook were lovable men, kind, considerate, generous, courteous and Christian gentle- men.
James A. Ashbrook was born August 16, 1811. His wife was Rebecca Kagy. James was a farmer for years in Pleasant township, but in later life moved to Coles County, Illinois. He died January 24, 1879, aged 76 years.
Eli P. Ashbrook was born in Pleasant township, December 10, 1816. He was well educated for the times in which he lived, and during his young years was a successful school teacher. His first wife was Adaline Shaw, daughter of John Shaw, a much respected farmer of Rushcreek. His wife's broth- ers were O. P. Shaw, J. W. Shaw and Andrew Shaw, all well known to your readers. His second wife, Mary, was a daughter of Andrew Shaw, a number one citizen of Rushcreek township, and a brother of John Shaw. Joseph Shaw, near West Rushville, is his brother-in-law.
E. P. has had a checkered career. He farmed for some years and finally invested money in the distillery business. Fire came and swept away most of his in-
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vestment. He then moved West and settled in Mat- toon, Illinois, where he was for some time engaged in the woolen mill business. He now lives a retired life at Windsor, Illinois, being now nearly 83 years of age. Eli P. was always an elegant gentleman, indus- trious, energetic and honest, and left a host of friends behind, when he left old Fairfield.
His oldest daughter, Laura, lives in Ada, Ohio, and one of his sons is a druggist at Mansfield, Ohio.
Another is a prosperous man in Washington State. Two other daughters are happily married and live, one in Mattoon and one in Chicago, Illinois.
Fanny Ashbrook was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, January 3, 1804. She married Lewis Kagy, long a good farmer of Walnut township. They reared three beautiful daughters, and intelligent girls they were. Aaron Kagy, for years the great stock buyer of this county, was Lewis Kagy's son. Mary married Jacob Walters and lives at Webster City, Iowa. They had the misfortune to lose an only daughter by fire, her clothing having taken fire. Laura married James Church. Rebecca married first, Ben. Walters. She married again, this time to a wealthy farmer near Ottawa, Illinois. Mrs. Kagy died, aged 93 years.
Deborah Ashbrook was born May 26, 1819. She married David McNaughten, a farmer of Walnut town- ship.
The great sorrow of their lives was the loss of a dear boy, Aaron, at the assault upon Ft. Wagner. He sleeps in an unknown grave, no one in this county saw him fall or is able to tell anything about his death. David died, aged 65 years. Deborah died December. 1897.
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Katherine Ashbrook was born March 26, 1814. She married Samuel Walters, a farmer of Walnut. She died October, 1891. Her children live in the West.
Amelia Ashbrook was born August 19, 1825. She married William Cherry, a farmer of Walnut. They were the parents of twelve children. She died Novem- ber 2, 1877. The Cherry children are married, three or four live near the old home, the others in the West.
It is surprising to learn how the old families are locked together by marriage. The two Peters families, the Stevensons, Rebers, Ruffners, Leists, Allens, Ash- brooks, Claypools and Shaws are bound together like an endless chain. The writer is indebted to Eli P. Ashbrook for information furnished.
The Ashbrooks were well posted politicians. When parties divided during President Jackson's term, they espoused the cause of the Whig party. They were ardent supporters of Gen. Harrison and Henry Clay. In 1848, the writer was present at a township Whig meeting held in Keller's school house. Tunis P. Ash- brook was president. At this meeting Uriah C. Rut- ter, then a young school teacher, was a speaker, and de- voted his time to a defense of the tariff. He acquitted himself so well that the president requested him to prepare a speech for the next meeting.
In 1856 they became Republicans, and for the re- mainder of their lives gave their time, their means and influence to that party, conscientiously believing, that in that way, they were but serving their country. Their families were represented in the Union army by active, brave and intelligent young men -- and while they were fighting the foe with undaunted courage, their fathers were active, patriotic supporters of the Gov- ernment at home.
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Captain Aaron P. Ashbrook returned in safety from the war, and was for many years a popular citizen and an active leading Republican of this county.
Reason Ashbrook, a prominent citizen of Coles County, Illinois, formerly lived in this county and be- longed to one branch of this family.
THE PETERS FAMILY (TUNIS, REV.)
Jonathan and Martha (Thompson) Peters, came from Hampshire County, Virginia, in 1816, first stop- ping at the home of William Ashbrook, about a mile from the old homestead.
Jonathan Peters was a son of Tunis Peters, who lived in Hampshire County, Virginia. Tunis Peters' father and mother emigrated from Holland to the Shenandoah Valley, and raised a family there in the first half of the eighteenth century. Tunis' wife's maiden name being Francina Adams.
Tunis and Francina Peters reared a family of thirteen children in Virginia and emigrated to Picka- way County, Ohio, following their children after they had married.
Jonathan Peters married Martha Thompson in Virginia and came to Pickaway County and afterward removed to Fairfield County.
Jonathan was one of the pioneer school teachers, living at the time-April 30, 1822-near Millersport on what is now known as the Martha Henderson farm.
Jonathan's stay here was short, he having said that he would not give a dollar an acre for such land as was about him. The experience of having to pen his cows in an enclosure to prevent them becoming mired in the swaley lands of the community, was such that
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he was very willing to remove, which he did in 1823, to the vicinity of Logan, Ohio.
A few years after living there, his father, Tunis Peters came from East Ringgold, Pickaway County, to visit him, and died September 24, 1826, at his home.
On the prevailment of his mother he removed and lived with her in Pickaway County, Ohio.
The ancestor of Mrs. Peters was John Thompson, who came from Ireland at the age of sixteen, as a stowaway, and upon his arrival at Baltimore he was sold for his transportation to the highest bidder. He afterward became a wealthy and respected farmer of Hampshire County, Virginia.
In 1844 Mrs. Peters died, leaving a large family of children. Jonathan again married, this time a widow Harmon, aunt of Dr. G. A. Harmon, of Lan- caster, and mother of Amos T. Harmon, of Columbus, whom Peters reared to manhood.
In 1848 Jonathan again moved to the place upon which he died, it being three miles east of Pleasant- ville, Ohio, and the place is yet known as the Jonathan Peters farm.
PHILIP PETERS.
Philip Peters married Mary Ashbrook and settled at a very early day in Walnut township, Fairfield County. He died and was buried in that township in 1817, near what is now Millersport. Their daughter, Mary, was born January 10, 1812. Left an orphan at five years, she was taken into the family of her uncle, Peter McGee. In February, 1834, she was married to John Pittsford, of Granville. They settled in Baltimore, where Pittsford was a merchant. Their daughter, Martha, who married Isaac Frickbone, was born in the brick house now owned by S. S. Weist in
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Baltimore. In 1843, Pittsford exchanged his goods for a farm near Kirkersville, to which they moved, Pittsford died in March, 1847.
In 1849 Mrs. Pittsford married Myron Merchant, who died in June, 1866. In October, 1868, she married Alfred Hatch, of Delaware, Ohio, who died in May, 1871, leaving her a widow for the third time. Mrs. Hatch is still living, 89 years of age. The Peters stock were long-lived people.
TUNIS PETERS, SR.
Tunis Peters, sr., married Francina Adams, and they reared a family of 13 children in Hampshire county, Virginia. We have written briefly of Jonathan and Philip and will now mention others of the family.
James Peters married his cousin, Nancy Peters, Samuel Peters married his cousin, Amelin Peters, Abigail Peters married Aaron Ashbrook, Deborah Peters married Michael Blue, Katie Peters married Reverend Eli Ashbrook, who moved to Licking County, Ohio; Tunis Peters, jr., married Eve Glaze and settled in Franklin County. The Peters Dash Company was owned by his sons, of Columbus, Ohio; Gersham Peters married Susan Glaze and settled in Franklin County; Parmelia Peters married William Ashbrook and they settled in Amanda township, Fair- field County, Ohio; John Peters married Cynthia Biddle and settled in Pickaway County, Ohio; Absa- lom Peters married Phama Sarsher and settled near E. Ringgold, Pickaway County, Ohio.
THE KAGYS OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
The Shenndoah Valley, of Virginia, was settled largely by Pennsylvania people, both English and German speaking people. They emigrated from
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Berks, Lancaster and York Counties, Pennsylvania. There were Mennonites, Dunkers and Primitive Bap- tists among them. From the year 1806 to 1840, in almost every year many families came from that valley to Fairfield County. Samuel and Reverend John Wiseman, Abraham Winters, the Millers, Mur- phys, Ashbrooks, Beerys, Freeds and hundreds of other families all came from that splendid valley.
Of the many families referred to, none were larger or more highly respected than the Kagys. They were a hardy race, descended from hardy Swiss ancestors. But few of this large family now reside in Fairfield, for as the children grew to years of maturity, they married and either moved north to Seneca and Han- cock Counties or to Marion, Cumberland and Effing- ham Counties, Illinois. This family produced many men of considerable prominence and ability, farmers, lawyers, doctors, ministers, teachers and merchants.
Honorable John Seitz, of Seneca County, was the son of Lewis Seitz, whose wife was a Kagy.
Rudolph Kagy, a native of Switzerland, came first to Pennsylvania. From there he moved to the valley of Virginia, and he was the founder of the family that came to the county in 1833 and settled in Rushcreek.
CHRISTIAN KAGY,
Son of Rudolph, the second, was born September 14, 1771, in Pennsylvania, and went to Virginia in 1781. He was married to Mary Bibler in 1796; they were the parents of ten children. He moved to Fairfield County in 1818 and died September 3, 1831.
Lewis B. Kagy once lived on the Goldthwait farm in Walnut township, and was the oldest son. He was born January 15, 1798. October 9, 1823, he married
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Francina Ashbrook. He died May 12, 1872, in Illi- nois; his wife lived to be 93 years of age and died in Illinois, April 27, 1897. They were the parents of seven children.
Abigail died in infancy.
Aaron was born April 2, 1826. He married Eliza Mauk, of Walnut township; they now reside at McCool Junction, Nebraska. For five years, beginning in 1850, Aaron Kagy was the largest and busiest stock buyer in Ohio; he drove his cattle in lots of 100 to Baltimore, Maryland. He failed in 1854 and involved many of his friends. His father and father-in-law endorsed for him and their farms were sold to pay his debts.
Mary Kagy, the oldest daughter, was born May II, 1828. She married Jacob M. Walters and with him moved to the West ; she now lives, a widow, in Webster City, Iowa.
Laura C. was born March 19, 1832; she married James T. Church, son of Isaac Church, of Lancaster, and now lives, a widow, in Chicago, Illinois.
John M. Kagy was born April 8, 1834; he mar- ried Mary P. Beckwith. He has lived in many parts of the West and now resides at Boseman, Montana.
Tunis A. was born April 26, 1830; he was drowned July 3, 1853, in the Emberras river, Illinois, where he was visiting.
Rebecca Kagy was born March 4, 1836. Her first husband was Benjamin Walters, brother of Jacob M., husband of Mary. Her second husband is Moab P. Trumbo, to whom she was married February 26, 1856. They reside on a fine farm near Ottawa, Ill. The three daughters of Lewis B. Kagy are good women and exceptionally good looking. They were belles of Walnut township.
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Francis Kagy, daughter of Christian, was born July 20, 1800, in Virginia. She married David Bretz, May 19, 1822, by Reverend Snellson. David Bretz was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1798. He was the son of Valentine and Elizabeth Bretz. They lived near the old home and reared ten children.
Lewis K. Bretz, a son of David, married Elizabeth Seitz, February 7, 1849, in Seneca County, Ohio.
Eliza E. married G. W. Harshbarger, February 20, 1878. W. J. Bretz is a single man, of Wyandot, Ohio.
Francis A. Bretz married W. J. Stinemetz, No- vember 15, 1887. The two last named were daughters of. Lewis K., who died August II, 1771.
Abraham K. Bretz married Mary Ann Perkey, of Seneca County, Ohio, August 27, 1854.
Elizabeth Bretz married Ziba E. Meyers, October 20, 1844, of Seneca County, Ohio.
Samuel Bretz, son of David, was born September 13, 1828. April 14, 1853, he married Anna Seitz, daughter of Lewis Seitz.
One of them, Mr. George A. Bretz, is a Baptist preacher, of Albion, Indiana.
Valentine Bretz, married Sarah A. Telford, Sep- tember 27, 1855. He died June 11, 1886, from the effects of a wound, received at the battle of Stone River. One of his sons, residing in Michigan, mar- ried a Stinchcomb.
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