USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > Pioneer period and pioneer people of Fairfield County, Ohio > Part 20
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Richard Hooker, always known in this county as Turkey Run Hooker, or Dick, was a near relative of Samuel, Sr., and Richard Hooker, Sr., of Greenfield township, Fairfield County, Ohio. He came to this
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county early in the century, at least as early as 1804 ·or 1805. He was the first of the name to settle here. January 6, 1806, he was married to Nancy Tallman, by Thos. McCall, J. P. His wife was a daughter of William Tallman, who then lived upon a farm adjoin- ing that of Jedediah Allen, in Amanda township. Wil- liam Tallman was a good man, a good citizen, and pros- pered financially. In later years he moved to a farm adjoining that of his son-in-law, but just over the line in Pickaway County, where he owned about one sec- tion of land. William Tallman donated the land for the East Ringgold cemetery, and there he and his wife were buried. His father, Benjamin Tallman, and also his wife, were buried in the same cemetery. John, a brother of William, had a daughter named Mary, who married Fred Slough. They were the parents of Judge Tallman Slough, of the Common Pleas Court, Lancas- ter, Ohio. Another brother, Samuel, married a daughter of Gen. James Wells, the first owner of the Hooker farm, in Greenfield township.
The sons of William Tallman were George, Hin- ton, James, Thomas and Benjamin. George settled first in Chillicothe, and later moved to near New Hol- land, Pickaway County, Ohio. He was the father of Mrs. Rev. B. N. Spahr, late of Columbus, Ohio. This George Tallman reared Wilhelmina Slough in his family. He promised her an equal share in his estate with his children. He died suddenly, without mak- ing a will, and his children, who possessed his noble traits of character, carried out his promise, giving the young girl an equal share of the estate. Hinton moved to Delaware, Ohio, where he was a prominent merchant and milier. George Spahr, a great-grandson of William Tallman, is a prominent citizen and busi-
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Of' Fairfield County, Ohio.
ness man of Columbus, Ohio. James Tallman married Mary Bell and moved to West Virginia and later to- the west.
In 1811 Richard Hooker purchased 160 acres of land of Abraham Moyer, southwest quarter of section 20, on Turkey Run. He had previously entered sec- tion 19, and moved there, improved it, and built a. grist mill. The mill race can yet be distinguished, but there is no trace of mill or the dam. The Cedar Hill and Circleville pike passes diagonally through section 19, and the mill was just north of the crossing of Turkey Run.
Mr. Hooker gave one acre of ground for a grave- yard and school yard, also for the site of the present Baptist Church. Up to 1830 the services of this so- ciety were held in the Hooker school house. William Tallman's section was just over the line in Pickaway county, west of and adjoining the Hooker land. One half of the section is now owned by the Peters and Blues; Claypool owned the section north of and ad- joining Hooker. On the land of this one family the. sightseer could ride three miles - a tract unsurpassed in beauty and fertility. From the hill south of the Hooker residence is to be had the finest landscape view in this or any other county. Milton Peters now owns a large part of the Claypool farm, and his fine home is now one of the landmarks of the neighborhood.
Mr. Hooker was a very prominent and influential man. Some time prior to 1831 he moved his family to Holliday's Cove, Brook County, Virginia, where they immediately took a prominent position in the society of the neighborhood, and of Steubenville and Wellsburgh. In the year 1831, October 5, Mr. Hooker died. He made a will and gave to his son Richard 500 acres of
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section 19, range 19, of Fairfield County. This land Richard sold in less than a year to George Reigle, Sr. The Reigles and Kigers own the greater part of it. A section of land hardly surpassed by any other in the county. The children of Richard and Nancy Hooker were Phoebe, Elizabeth, Mary, Nancy, Richard, Eman- uel, John Randolph, George and Tallman. Phoebe married Albert Claypool, March 26, 1826, and they settled upon a large farm adjoining and north of that of Mr. Claypool's father-in-law. Two daughters of these parents are still living ; the sons are dead. Rich- ard Hooker, Jr., married Susan Graybill, February 13, 1828, Rev. Michael J. Steck officiating. Mary Hooker married Dr. Cowen, of Steubenville, Ohio. Elizabeth married a Mr. Shear, and he dying, she moved to Cal- ifornia. Nancy married Dr. Stanton, a brother or near relative of Edwin M. Stanton. The widow now lives in Washington, D. C. Of Mary, George and Tallman, we have no information. After Richard, Jr., sold his large farm he moved to Steubenville and became a merchant there. Later he married a second wife, gave up merchandise, and went to Texas, where he met with financial reverses. He is said to have met with a violent death in the south. Major Eman- uel T. Hooker, believed to be the son of Richard, re- turned to this county some time before the civil war. He enlisted in the Union army, in the First Ohio reg- iment, and was made a lieutenant of Company A. He was promoted to Captain, and served with his regiment until 1864, when he was regularly discharged. He was afterwards made major of one of the newly organ- ized Ohio regiments. January 16, 1865, he married Rebecca J. Hutchins, of Lancaster. He had three chil- dren by his first wife: Jessie, of Lancaster, who mar-
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
ried Henry Dysinger ; Fannie, of Fairfield County, who married Thomas Williamson ; George, a son, supposed to be living in Canton, Ohio. He had a daughter by his second wife. Major Hooker died in Lancaster a few years after the war and was buried in Elmwood cemetery.
Mary L. Ely, daughter of Dr. Stanton, and grand- daughter of Richard Hooker, of Holliday's Cove, is the wife of Rev. J. H. Ely, Episcopalian, College Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Holliday's Cove, and Brown's Island, Virginia, were famous places in pioneer times. In this neigh- borhood many people who have become distinguished were born and reared. The Brown's, Doddridges, Wells, Tallmans, Hammonds, Wrights, and other dis- tinguished families had their habitation here. Col. Richard Brown, the original proprietor, was born in Maryland, eight miles from Baltimore, in 1740, and died February, 18II. Prior to 1800 he purchased 1,150 acres of land, including Brown's island, of 350 acres. It was this land the greater part of which Richard Hooker, of Turkey Run, owned at the time of his death in 1831.
We close this sketch of a very remarkable and hon- ored pioneer family, one that took part and were prom- inent in the social life of their respective townships, and the schools and churches, doing all that was re- quired of good citizens. All were farmers and owned and cultivated large farms of the best land in the county. The families with whom they intermarried, the Tallmans and Stanberys, were large and highly respected, and all have left numerous descendants of unblemished reputation.
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SOME MARRIAGE RECORDS
George Tallman married Jane Douglas, and they were the parents of Mrs. B. N. Spahr.
Jonathan Hays married Elizabeth Hooker, in the year 1809, Richard Hooker, J. P., officiating. We
can't state to what family Elizabeth belonged.
James Tallman married Polly Bell, March 16, 1808, and moved to the Cove, Brook County, Virginia.
Thomas Tallman married Eleanor Cole, August 14, 1823, by Rev. Henry Matthews.
Benjamin Tallman married Rebecca Hedges, Oc- tober 5, 1823, by Rev. Henry Matthews.
William Tallman married Rachel Rush, of Amanda township, April 17, 1834. This was doubtless the father-in-law of Richard Hooker and his second wife.
Benjamin Tallman married Sarah Glanville, De- cember 24, 1833.
Hinton Tallman married Amanda M. Thompson, May 5, 1836, by Rev. Solomon Mineer. Hinton and his brother George were able business men, of high character, and were greatly esteemed wherever known.
THE REBER FAMILY AND THE BRIGHT FAMILY - PIONEERS ALL
John Bernhard Reber came from one of the German states to America in the year 1738 and settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. His descendants have been numerous in Berks County for one hundred and ninety- three years. One of his descendants, Morris Reber, is at this time a resident of Reading, Berks County. John B. Reber was the ancestor of the family of this county (Fairfield). Peter and Valentine, brothers, belonged to the third or fourth generation from Bernhard. They left behind them eight brothers and sisters. When
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
the Amish came to this county in 1835 they told John Reber that he had many relations in old Berks County.
Valentine and Peter Reber, brothers, came to Fair- field County from Berks County, Pennsylvania. Peter came here a single man in 1801 and made his home in Lancaster. He married a daughter of Frederick Arnold, a farmer living north of town. They reared a large family. Peter was a hotel keeper and owned considerable property in town. John Reber, a dis- tinguished merchant of Lancaster, and George Reber, a lawyer, were his sons. David Bright, Sr., married a sister of the Rebers and came to this county in 1800 and settled where Jacob Bright now lives in Green- field. Peter Reber and his family are more fully sketched in " Centennial Lancaster."
Valentine Reber was born in Berks County, Penn- . sylvania, and came with his young wife, who was Magdalena Van Reed, to Fairfield County in 1805. He had in 1803 visited the country and decided to make it his home. He purchased Section 10 of Amanda · township, upon which he made his home during his life. He was an intelligent, industrious, enterprising and influential man. He reared a famliy of thirteen children, all of whom filled an honorable position in life, and left to their children the immortal heritage of a good name. Valentine Reber was a member of the Ohio Legislature in the year 1820. He left to his children each 160 acres of land, or its equivalent. He died in the year 1828, still in the prime of old age. His widow married for her second husband, William Stage, but the union was not a happy one. His old home- stead is now owned by the heirs of Henry Reber.
Thomas Reber, the oldest son, was born in 1806, 21
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and married Rachel, the daughter of Jedediah Allen, a famous man of the neighborhood. He lived for some years on the Allen farm, but later moved to Wy- andotte County and purchased of the Armstrongs or at government sale, a very fine farm near Upper San- dusky. Here he lived and prospered, accumulating a fine estate. A Sandusky banker told the writer that Reber's bank balance never fell below $25,000.00. His son Felix lived and died in Marion County, Ohio.
Reber found on his farm, when he purchased it, a good brick home, one that had been used by Arm- strong, a half-breed, as a hotel. The writer, when a youth, spent one night in this famous hotel and partook of fruit grown in the old Indian orchard. This fine farm adjoins one equally as good, but not so large, of another Fairfield County man, Solomon Beery. Mr. Reber has been dead several years.
John Reber, one of the sons of Valentine, was raised upon his father's farm, but early engaged in selling goods at Adelphi, Ohio, in which he was not successful. He gave up the business and commenced farming and cattle feeding in Walnut township, Pick- away County, Ohio. In this he was very successful and before he had reached three score and ten he was a very wealthy man for the period in which he lived. He was a bachelor, lived in good style, was hospitable, kind and generous, and before or at his death, divided an estate of $400,000.00 among his relatives. A nephew resides upon his old home farm. John Reber was highly esteemed.
Dr. William Reber married Susan Huston and moved early to Brandon, Miss., where he spent his life. He reared two daughters known to the writer, one of whom became the wife of W. L. Clement, late
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
of Royalton, Ohio. Both, so far as we know, reside in the state of Mississippi.
Charles Reber married Belinda, the daughter of a farmer near Groveport, Ohio. They made their home there, and there Mr. Reber died in 1849. Thorn- ton Reber of this county is his son, and Mrs. Clarke Williamson, is a daughter. His son Henry lives near Circleville. A daughter married George Ashbrook, a son of Absolom Ashbrook. They reside in Pickaway County, Ohio.
James Reber married Catharine Stage and he spent his life in Pickaway County. James Reber was a very amiable man, a good citizen, and a Christian gentle- man. His son William resides upon the John Reber homestead.
Joseph Reber married Sallie Dum and late in life moved to Jackson, Missouri. He is the only one of the eight brothers now living.
Samuel Reber secured a good education, studied law in Lancaster, and being admitted to the bar, re- moved to St. Louis, Missouri. There he became prom- inent and was elected Judge of the Common Pleas Court. Judge Reber was an elegant gentleman and very much esteemed. He married Margaret, the daughter of General William J. Reese of Lancaster, Ohio. He died while yet a young man and left quite a family of children.
Henry Reber married Sarah Allen, daughter of Howard Allen. He became owner of his father's old home and Section 10. Here he lived in good style, rearing a nice family of children. Henry was an ex- ceptionally fine man, honorable in all of his dealings, a just and liberal man. He was a reader and was posted on all political matters. He was a man of
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affairs and calculated to lead in any walk of life. He died while there yet seemed to be many years of usefulness before him. Joseph Hedges, George Blue and Dr. Beery married his daughters. He had but one son, Henry Clay.
A daughter of Valentine Reber, whose name we cannot give, married Jonathan Huston of Pickaway County, Ohio They reared a large family of children.
Eliza married Lyman Allen, the son of Jedediah Allen. His sons were Reber, Flavius and Clinton. Reber lives near Hooker; Flavius in Jackson County, Missouri; Clinton died in Missouri. One of the daughters married Emmitt Defenbaugh, Nora mar- ried Ed. Griner, Etta married William Griner. Mar- garet married Silas Wolfly of Delaware, now a wealthy tanner. Mary married John Allen, son of Howard. Rachel died young.
Anna married Andrew Peters and they began life upon a farm near the old home. They both lived to a good old age and led an exemplary life. Success crowned their lives and they left their children a fine estate. Alice Peters married George Creed ; their chil- dren were Frank, Ann, Fannie and Emma. Mrs. Creed died suddenly October 7, 1896. Milton Peters, son of Andrew, lives upon a fine estate in Amanda township; Frank and John in Pickaway County.
Pauline Reber married William L. Clement, for many years a prominent merchant of Royalton, Ohio. Their children were John, Charles, William, George and Mary. His second wife was Ann Reber, daugh- ter of Dr. William Reber. They had two children.
Mary Reber married Horace Huber, son of Philip Huber. They moved to Seneca County, Ohio, where
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
Huber died. His wife is the only daughter of Valen- tine Reber now living.
Their children are John and Eugene. We regret that this sketch is not more complete. It is next to impossible to procure full information of the pioneer families. What can the children of the honored dead be thinking about to neglect this matter ?
The Rebers, who were church members, were Methodists, prominent in the church and influential in the circle where they lived. But few, if any, pioneer families have a better record. The thirteen children, like the thirteen on an adjoining farm (Samuel Peters), grew to man's estate and lived long and useful lives. Jacob Dum, whose farm adjoined the Peters' home, settled there in 1833. He reared a family of thirteen children. Three such families on adjoining farms is remarkable.
But what is more remarkable, the thirty-nine chil- dren became men and women, and, without exception, filled honorable and useful positions in society.
David Bright, Sr., one of the early pioneers of Greenfield township, married Sarah Reber, a sister of Valentine Reber. They came from Berks County, Pennsylvania, to Fairfield County, in the year 1800, and settled where Jacob Bright now lives. David Bright cleared up a farm and like many other pioneers ran a whiskey distillery near his home, which, like all of its kind, proved a great injury to the neighborhood. Mr. Bright reared two sons and four daughters. He died at the very early age of 42.
David Bright, Jr., was born in 1812. He married Catharine Arnold for his first wife; his second wife was Susan Gesselle, who still lives at the advanced age of 87 years. David Bright was a very substantial
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man, highly esteemed for his industry and integrity, and his skill and judgment as a farmer and business man. Greenfield honors no better citizen than David Bright, Jr. His son Charles married Catharine Carnes, one of an estimable family of Greenfield.
Charles moved to near Findlay, Ohio, where he owns a large and fertile farm. He represented Han- cock County in the Ohio Legislature a few years since.
Samuel married Rebecca Fisher of Greenfield, daughter of Samuel Fisher. He lives upon a good farm in Walnut township. He is a wide-awake far- mer and devoted to his business. Raised a Lutheran, on account of new location he became a very devoted Methodist.
Emma married Adam Fisher, son of Daniel Fisher of Greenfield. They live in a splendid home in Wal- nut township near Pleasantville.
James married Mary Rugh, daughter of Christian Rugh. Their fine mansion overlooks one of the finest 300-acre farms in Walnut township. James is a good farmer, a money maker and a money saver.
Julia married William Spangler, son of Jacob Spangler of Pleasant.
Luther married Alma, daughter of Jacob Rugh Brandt. He owns the old Abrams homestead in Green- field township. He is a sturdy farmer and not afraid of hard work. His build and face remind us of the picture of his grand namesake, Martin Luther.
John R. Bright married Sarah Rife, daughter of John Rife. He owns the old David Bright home- stead, a magnificent place, and is a good, industrious farmer, who raises good crops and whose word is always good.
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
John Bright, son of David Bright, Sr., married Sarah Arnold, daughter of Jacob Arnold. John was a good farmer, good manager and a successful man. He reared a large family.
Thomas married Rebecca Bush, daughter of Sam- uel Bush. He is a good farmer near No. 8. Mary married John Fisher, son of Daniel of Greenfield.
Louise married Ben Haas. Haas is one of the Infirmary Directors of this county.
Warren married a Holliday of Rushcreek.
Levi married Louisa Miller, daughter of David Miller. He owns a fine farm near Millersport, Ohio.
George has never yielded to the charms of fasci- nating maidens, and remains a bachelor.
Jacob married Annie Heffner of Pennsylvania. George and Jacob farm the original Bright farm.
William H. Bright married Ella Myers, daughter of Michael Myers. Nelson married Mahala Miesse, daughter of Solomon Miesse.
Sarah Bright, daughter of David, Sr., married Thomas Fetters. They reared a very large family of sons and daughters, a family highly respected and an honor to Thomas Fetters, who was a good man. Mar- garet married Daniel Arnold; they were the parents of Monroe and Jerry. Diana married a Boyer and lives near Pleasantville, a widow.
Susan married Abraham Graybill; they moved in an early day to Findlay, where they reared a large family of children.
John Bright, the brother of David Bright, Sr., spent the greater part of his life on his farm on Poplar creek, Liberty township, Fairfield County. He was married three times and reared quite a family of chil- dren. Two of his sons own the old home farm of over
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300 acres, and are very prominent men in their town- ship, and well known throughout the county. John, Jr., lives at his ease in Baltimore, and Enoch upon his farm. John Bright, Sr., was one of the founders of the Evangelical Church in this county and upon his farm the first house of worship of that denomination was built. Moses Bright is a son of a deceased brother of Enoch.
Four of the best known old-time citizens of Lib- erty, married daughters of John Bright - Alexander Miller, Daniel Langle, John Swartz and Henry Lan- gle. They all reared families and the connection is very large and widely extended. They were all good men and worthy of the high esteem in which they were held. John Bright was a man of integrity, whose word was good everywhere he was known. His de- scendants bear an honored name and worthily main- tain the reputation of the old pioneer.
THE REAM FAMILY
Abraham Ream, the first person by that name to settle in Ohio, was born in Reamstown, Pa., in the year 1746. His wife's name was Rosannah, and there were born to them fourteen children-six sons and eight daughters. Of this number twelve were born in Pennsylvania. In 1798, Abraham, together with his family, removed to Fairfield County, Ohio. His was the sixth family of white settlers to settle in this county. It is stated that he journeyed from his Penn- sylvania home to Pittsburg in wagons ; from thence on a flat-boat down the Ohio river to the mouth of the Hockhocking. He then wended his way up that stream in dugouts or canoes as far as the great falls (now one mile above Logan) ; thence by land up the stream, till he reached a point on its banks now known
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
as the Ream's mill. In this beautiful and fertile part of the valley he entered four and one-fourth sections of land. These purchases were made at auction, against a Kentuckian, at Chillicothe. The price paid for some of the land first bought was nearly four dollars per acre; for some of the rest, as low as one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre.
In 1804 Abraham Ream built the mill which still retains his name. He and his sons were strong and fearless men. They were also great hunters, killing many bears, deer and other wild animals in the adja- cent hills. Abraham was also a man of some business qualifications, was industrious, accommodating, socia- ble and was a member of the Reformed Church. He died in 1824, and his wife in 1826. Their remains lie buried in the Ream graveyard.
The following named were the sons and daughters of Abraham and Rosannah Ream :
I. Elizabeth, the oldest, was born April 4, 1776; was married to Peter Rudolph, Sr., who also came along with her father from Reamstown to Fairfield County. Their children were Joseph, William, Peter John, Abraham, Henry, Daniel, Samuel, Polly, Mar- garet and Delilah. Elizabeth died April 12, 1861.
2. Sampson was born June 27, 1877 ; was married to Anna, sister of Judge Joseph Stukey. Their union was fruitful of thirteen children, as follows: Jonas A., who married Hannah E. Wilkinson ; to whom were born Thaddeus Hector, Cadorsus Plantagenet, Mois- ten Constantine, Victoria Grace Arena, Florence, Alice, Pocahontas and Mary. Mrs. Charles W. Tow- son is a daughter of the second wife of Capt. Jonas A. Ream, who was Miss Ely, the teacher of a select school in Lancaster for several years. Jonas A. Ream was
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captain of the Black Hawk company, Berne township boys. Samuel married Nancy Schisler ; their children were named Sarah, Joseph and Rachael, all of whom died young. Noah A. married Nancy King; he after- wards moved to California. Eli and Absolom were unmarried and both died in the Mexican war. Eliz- abeth was married to George Westenbarger. Barbara was wedded to John Fartig. Martha married Jacob Poff. Joseph Adam died single in California. Four others died young. Sampson's feats of physical strength and skill would lead one to conclude that he was not mis-named. If he never slew a lion, yet his- exploits among wild animals only a little less ferocious. than the king of beasts would at least lead one to. associate him with his Bible namesake.
3. Rosannah was born December 11, 1778. She
married John Panebaker. They were the parents of John, who died in his fourteenth year. William, who married Rachael Kelley; their children were George, Elizabeth, Rosan and Rachel. Abraham married Eva Kremer; there were born to them Daniel, Susan, Eva, Hannah, Catharine and Mary. Rachel died in her eighteenth year. Samuel was united in wedlock to Sarah Erick. Rosannah died December 2, 1839.
4. William Ream was born September 16, 1780. He was both a farmer and tanner. Was married to Anna Hess; their children were Adam and Lydia. Their children were Rosan, Rachel, Elizabeth, Wil- liam, George, Henry, Josiah, Lydia Jane. William died September 30, 1845.
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