USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > Pioneer period and pioneer people of Fairfield County, Ohio > Part 22
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Abraham V. was born in 1810, and for his wife married Susan Fellers. They lived a long and useful life in Greenfield township. Their old mill west of the Summit church is still one of the old land marks of the neighborhood. Winfield Scott Courtright, a prominent citizen of Columbus, is their son.
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William C. was born in 1813, and for his wife married Catharine Drake.
O. P. Courtright was born in 1815, and married Sarah Harman of Ross County, a relative of Dr. G. A. Harman of Lancaster, Ohio.
John Courtright was born in 1817, and for his wife married Anna Morehart of Bloom township.
Zephaniah was born in 1819, and for his wife married Sarah Williamson, a daughter of George Wil- liamson. Zephaniah was a very intelligent man and an enterprising and prosperous citizen. No man was more highly esteemed in Bloom township or in Fair- field County, among those who knew him. He died at a good old age, leaving a handsome estate, and, what is far better, a good name. We write thus of him because we knew him best and esteemed him
highly. Their family consisted of two sons, Silas and Abraham, and four daughters. Mary resides on the home place with her brother Abraham, a leading farmer and stock man of Bloom. H. J. Kneisley mar- ried one of the daughters. They own a part of the old home place, but reside in Carroll, where Kneisley is a grain merchant, and a live, wide-awake individual. Reber Allen, a great-grandson of the old Vermont pio- neer, Dr. Silas Allen, married one of the daughters ; they reside on a nicely improved farm on the Colum- bus pike near Hooker. Another daughter married Andrew Jackson Musser, late Treasurer of Fairfield. County ; they reside in the city of Lancaster.
Cyrus Courtright was born in 1821, and for his wife married Catharine Switzer, a step-daughter of Walter McFarland, and a sister of Mrs. Rev. Joseph Roof and of Mrs. Robert Wilson. One of their daugh-
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
ters married Levi Hite, a grandson of Daniel Keller. He has a son who is an attorney in Columbus, Ohio.
Effie Courtright was born in 1827; she married John W. Wilson of Greenfield township. One of their daughters married Thomas Carlisle, son of B. W. Carlisle. Another married Henry Lehman of Des Moines, Iowa.
We regret that we have not the data to say more of the other families mentioned. Each couple reared families of children more or less numerous.
John Courtright, Sr., one of the two pioneer brothers, married Elizabeth Grubb. Their children were Abraham, John Jacob, Jesse D., and Sallie, wife of George W. Custer.
Abraham married Catharine Snider.
John married a Miss Crist.
Jacob also married a Crist.
Jesse D. married a Miss Stout of Clearcreek town- ship. Dr .. George S. Courtright of Lithopolis, where he is a prominent citizen, was a son of Jesse, as is Judge Courtright of Circleville, and Dr. Alvah Court- right.
Most of these people lived to old age and reared large families, but we cannot go farther into details for want of information.
Jacob and John we knew well and they were men of character and highly esteemed.
Of the old stock all are now dead, except the ven- erable John Courtright of Lithopolis and Cyrus of Pickaway County. John's health is fair and his mind bright, and he seems to enjoy life, and would no doubt be willing to live it over again.
A sister of Abraham V. Courtright, Sr., married a Wheeler. Their son Samuel is an attorney of San-
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dusky, Ohio. He learned the harness trade with Nick Little and was one of the live boys of the town in 1848 and 1849. He studied law and located in Sandusky years ago. He was one of the company un- der Captain Ira Tripp, that broke up the Negro cele- bration in August, 1848. At that time many people winked at and applauded their conduct. Now such ·conduct would meet with universal condemnation.
Judge Samuel W. Courtright of Circleville is a descendant, as we learn, of John Courtright, Sr., a son of Jesse D. Courtright, and brother of Dr. Court- right. He is a very prominent man of his adopted home and a bright Freemason. He was born in Bloom township and owns a good farm there.
John E. Courtright and Ezra were, a few years since, quite prominent men in Bloom. They were of the third generation. Like most of their family who passed middle life, they have gone to the land of eter- nal rest.
Of this once prominent family but few represen- tative men remain.
THE WILLIAMSON FAMILY
Theodore Williamson, the pioneer and the ances- tor of the large family in this county, was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, in 1774. He came to Ohio and settled in this county near Royalton in the year 1807. He died April 15, 1870, aged 96 years. His wife was Miss Rhoda Prater, of Virginia. She died September, 1857, aged 79 years. They were the par- ents of a large family of sons and daughters. all of whom were farmers and reputable citizens. The old- est son, George W., married Elizabeth Kemp. They lived on the farm now owned by Albert Williamson,
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
near the upper falls of the Hockhocking. He died December 10, 1879. His wife died January 19, 1889.
Their oldest son, Theodore Williamson, married a. sister of Henry Alspach. He lived for years on a fine farm near Hooker, and was known as the neatest and best farmer of that vicinity. He sold his farm. and moved to Omaha, to which city his sons, Sey- mour and Charles, had preceded him. He now lives. near Columbus, Ohio. Seymour married a Bookwal- ter; Charles married Miss Annie Wiseman of Lan- caster, Ohio. Henry, son of George, married a Miss Tipton. He owns a good farm in Bloom township, but makes his home in Lancaster. He was a Union. soldier, and left his right arm in Southern soil.
Albert, son of George, married Rose Dysinger. He owns the home farm, but rents and conducts an implement store, or warehouse, in Lancaster. Sarah married Zepheniah Courtright,; Zona married Wil- liam Coffman; Lorinda married John E. Courtright; Elizabeth married Isaac Bollenbaugh, and Amanda married John Coffman.
A good family of children survive Zepheniah- Courtright and wife.
Abraham Courtright and his sister Mary reside- upon the home place of 300 acres. One of his daugh- ters married H. J. Knisely, a farmer and grain dealer of Carroll, Ohio. Another daughter married Reber Allen, and another daughter married Andrew J. Musser, late treasurer of this county. Silas, a son- of Zepheniah Courtright, lives near the upper falls of Hockhocking.
Jacob P. Williamson, son of Theodore, was born in 1804. He died March 16, 1876, aged 72 years. He- married Elizabeth Odell and lived upon the home.
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place of the pioneer, Theodore. William, his son, married Flora Dysinger and moved to Indiana.
Silas J. Williamson, son of Jacob, was born De- .cember 14, 1831. He married Susanah Kiger. He lives on the old pioneer farm. John, son of Jacob, married Hannah Cruit. George, son of Jacob, mar- ried Anna Kiger and moved to Wells county, Indiana.
Alonzo, son of Jacob P., married Dora, daughter .of Daniel Kellerman, and moved to Bluffton, Indiana, where he is a very prominent banker and citizen.
Rhoda, daughter of Jacob, married John Madden ; they live on Muddy Prairie, near Amanda. Cholista married James Robinson and died some years since. Etta married David Cole, and they moved to Wells county, Indiana. Catharine married George Otis. Emma married Robert Cruit, one of the prominent and successful farmers of Hocking township.
Isaac Newton, son of Theodore, the pioneer, mar- ried Elizabeth Peters, daughter of Samuel Peters. She is living at a very old age, but is well and hearty, bright and happy, in the home so long endeared to her by toil and happiness. Mr. Williamson died December 16, 1890, aged 82 years. Mr. Williamson was a good farmer and a lover of and a judge of good fruit.
His son Theodore married a daughter of Henry Alspach. Rufus was a Union soldier and was killed in battle. Joseph married a Miss Harrison.
Tunis married Ella Alspach, daughter of Joseph Alspach. Samuel died young and did not marry. Mary married G. Stanbery; Althea married Frank Philbrick; Anna married Clay Johnson ; Emma never married. John Williamson, son of Theodore, married a Miss Ingman. He died recently. His home was on
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
a farm near Royalton. His son, Clark Williamson, married a daughter of Charles Reber and a grand daughter of Valentine Reber. His daughter married Dr. Silbaugh of Lancaster, Ohio. Milton William- son married a Miss Groff and they live on the home place of John Williamson. Henrietta married George Ward, Sophia and Maria are single women.
Silas, the son of Theodore, married Lucinda Shawan, a sister or niece of R. W. Shawan, the great merchant of Tiffin, Ohio. Shawan, in early life, worked upon a farm in Amanada township, and fed cattle in the winter for a small sum of money per month. He went to Tiffin at an early day, prospered and was rated a millionaire.
We know but little of the family of Silas William- son. His son Thomas married a Miss Hooker. Wil- liam Williamson, a son of Theodore, married Catha- rine Griffith and moved to Missouri, where they died. Levi Williamson, son of Theodore, married a daugh- ter of James Grantham, and moved to Iowa, where they died. Eliza, daughter of Theodore Williamson, married George W. Halderman, both long since dead. Ara married Henry Huber, who once lived where George Creed now lives. They moved to Shelby County, Illinois. Zero married Enos Prater and they moved to Ross county, Ohio. Both now dead.
This completes the record of the children and grandchildren of the old pioneer so far as we have been able to trace the family.
On the farm near the house of Silas J. Williamson, in sight of the Royalton road leading from Lancas- ter, there are two very remarkable elm trees. They were found there by the pioneer, Theodore William- son, and preserved. Eighty-two years ago they were
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15 inches in diameter. One of them measures 2} feet from the ground, 20 feet in circumference. The other 23 feet. Their tops cover a space of ground 90 feet in diameter. Apple trees planted 75 years ago still bear fruit.
LARIMER-CHANEY
The Larimer family were citizens of Rushcreek township as early as 1802. Robert Larimer was the first resident to die and Phoebe Larimer the first to marry. Her husband was William Martin, the son of a pioneer. Ebenezer Larimer was a prominent man among the first settlers ; Isaac, Sr., James, Joseph and John Larimer were other members of the family. Isaac and James were in Capt. Sanderson's company in 1812, and with their comrades were surrendered by General Hull at Detroit. Joseph and John were in the second company raised by Capt. Sanderson.
Wright Larimer and Isaac Larimer were well known, popular, useful and honorable men of a late period. Fifty years ago they were the prominent Democrats of the township and received favors at the hands of their party. Isaac Larimer was a member of the Ohio General Assembly in the years 1848 and 1849, representing Fairfield, Hocking and Perry Counties. The Whig and Democratic parties were so nearly a tie that two Freesoilers held the balance of power and dictated legislation. They knew their power and ruled with an iron hand. They proposed to the Whigs to repeal the Black Laws and elect Salmon P. Chase United States Senator and that they should have the Supreme Judge. The Whigs declined the offer. It was made to the Democrats and accepted. Daniel Keller, Isaac Larimer and H. C. Whitman, Senator, voted with the Freesoilers.
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
All that the Democrats got out of this combina- tion was a Judge of the Supreme Court and the satis- faction of defeating the Whigs and Thomas Ewing for Senator.
They builded better than they thought ; they drove the entering wedge that finally disrupted parties. The election of Chase gave new life and strength to the Freesoil sentiment throughout the north, and it soon became apparent that the watchword of parties would be slavery or anti-slavery. The Whig party went down before it and the result was the formation of the Republican party. Chase led in this preliminary skir- mish, and from that day to the present, fifty years, Ohio statesmen have been influential leaders in public affairs.
The vote of Keller, Larimer and Whitman was denounced in unmeasured terms by the Democrats of this county, both in public and in private; indigna- tion meetings were held in some townships.
Larimer became disgusted with the treatment he received and ever after followed the fortunes of Sen- ator Chase. He became a leading and active Repub- lican and voted for Chase for Governor of Ohio, and for General Fremont and Abraham Lincoln for Presi- dent.
Chase had him appointed a mail agent from Zanes- ville to Morrow in 1861, but the work proved too hard for him and his eyes gave out. He resigned and re- turned to his farm. In a year or two he sold out and moved to Darke County, Ohio, where he died a few years since. He left two daughters in this county who are highly esteemed-one, Rebecca, is the wife of William Rowles, the other, Elizabeth, is the wife of
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a relative of William, John S. Rowles. William Rowles is the present owner of the old homestead of John M. Ashbrook, a beautiful farm of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Rowles have about reached three score and ten years. They are the happy parents of ten children.
JUDGE CHANEY
Judge Chaney was one of the brainy and enter- prising pioneers of Fairfield County. He was always a leader in his township and for his opportunities one of the foremost men of Fairfield County. He was blessed with good common sense, good habits, good morals and was in all respects an exemplary citizen. He was born in Washington County, Maryland, Jan- tiary 12, 1790. When four years of age his father moved to Bedford County, Pa. There he died when his son John was fourteen years of age. Soon after his father's death, his only brother died, leaving the mother and three sisters in very poor circumstances. His father owned a good farm but lost it by endorsing for friends. From the age of fourteen to twenty he supported his mother and sisters. In the fall of 1810 he bade adieu to his family and made his way to the West, and landed in Fairfield County, near the site of Waterloo. He did not remain, but went over to Pick- away County, where he remained two years and then returned to his Pennsylvania home. In the year 1815 he returned to this county and settled in Bloom town- ship. In the fall of 1816 he married Mary Ann Lafere and went to housekeeping in a log cabin fourteen feet square. He said that he was poor, but did not doubt the future, as he intended to live a correct life. He made rails for fifty cents per hundred and cut cord wood for twenty-five cents per cord.
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
Notwithstanding his poverty, having learned of the serious illness of his mother, he went to Bedford, Pa., and remained with her to the end and buried her by the side of his father. "Honor thy father and mother that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." He returned to his home and began anew the struggle of life in the new country with undaunted courage. The country rapidly improved and every year saw a change for the better. He met with many discouragements and sometimes longed for the old home, but poverty kept him in Ohio. He was too poor to move.
A few of his early neighbors were Henry Dove, Chaney Ricketts, Abraham Pickering, Jacob Picker- ing, Mordecai Fishbaugh, Isaac Meason, the Court- rights, all were living near him, previous to the year 1812. He was soon able to purchase a mill, saw-mill and a distillery and the business brought him in contact with people over a wide extent of country. This prop- erty was on Spring Run, about one and one-half miles west of Carroll.
He was elected a justice of the peace for 1821, 1824 and 1827, serving nine years.
He was trustee of Bloom township for a period of twenty-three years. He was also a major, colonel and paymaster in the old style Ohio militia.
In the years 1828, 1829 and 1830 he was elected to the lower house of the Ohio legislature where he served the public with distinction and honor. In 1831 the legislature elected him an associate judge of Fair- . field Common Pleas Court.
In 1832 he was nominated as candidate for Con- gress. Judge Irvin was his competitor. The prelimin- ary work was done at the general muster, three-fourths
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of the militia voting for him. This ended the contest, Irvin retired and Chaney was elected in October. The district was Fairfield, Perry, Hocking and Morgan. He was re-elected in 1834, and again in 1836. Having served three terms in Congress he returned to his farm and the stern duties of life. In 1842 he was again elected a member of the legislature and in 1844 he was elected State senator from the Fairfield district. In the year 1855 he was again returned to the lower house of the legislature and served one term. In 1832 he was a presidential elector and voted for Andrew Jackson.
In 1851 he was elected a member of the Consti- tutional Convention that formed our present constitu- tion. His associate was Col. Wm. Medill. His pub- lic career closed as a legislator in 1855. A wonderful career, when we consider his situation and prospects in 1816. He lived a correct live, improved his oppor- tunities and made friends and success followed-and the fortune that looked so dark and gloomy became bright and brilliant. There is no instance in this county of so many distinguished honors being con- ferred upon a plain, unassuming farmer.
It is said of John Chaney that he never solicited office, they came unsought.
When ninety years of age, he, with the writer, made his last call upon some old friends. He said to John T. Brasee that he had all his life been opposed to slavery. That he learned to hate the institution from what his mother told him of it. It was an interesting . interview to witness, but sad to see the old men part, never to meet again. Brasee soon bid adieu to earth and Chaney died in two or three years at Canal Win- chester. Both began life as penniless orphans, both
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
achieved distinction and honor and both accumulated wealth. Both were honest, fearless, just men.
Judge Chaney reared three sons who have been quite prominent men in this and Franklin County. James was all his life a farmer of Bloom township. Dr. Chaney, of Canal Winchester, has represented Franklin in the Ohio legislature. Oliver P., in his young days was a clerk for Reber & Kutz, in Lancas- ter. He made the trip to Europe with his friend, John Reber. Since that time he has resided in Canal Winchester, where he dealt in grain and bred fine horses. He owns the old home farm in Bloom town- ship. He is an intelligent man and a worthy son of the old Judge.
REED, DENNISON AND SLAUGHTER
The Reed and Dennison families were among the early pioneers of Greenfield township, Fairfield Coun- ty, Ohio.
There were three of the Reed brothers, viz., James, William and Huston. The land first owned by the Reeds lies just west of the farm of James W. Wilson. James, whose children resided on the farm until quite recently married Nancy Hood, a girl of the neighbor- hood, but whose family is now unknown in the township. James and William Reed were among the very early settlers of the township. They built and operated one of the first salmills on the Hockhocking River at a very early day.
Huston Reed came out from Pennsylvania with , an only daughter and only child, and made his home with his brother William. The girl grew to woman- hood and became the wife of John M. Schoch, a Ger- man, who at that time worked at the Barrett Woolen Mill, near the upper falls of the Hockhocking River.
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After marriage he moved to near Canal Winchester, where he again worked in a woolen mill. He soon ex- changed this business for that of a tavern keeper in Canal Winchester, and was long well known to Lan- caster people as the landlord of the stage station. His son, John M. Schoch, still keeps open the old-time tavern.
The family of James Reed has been well known in their township for one hundred years, retaining the old home farm until within a year or two.
William Reed married a Miss Black in Pennsyl- vania before emigrating to Ohio. When war was de- clared in 1812, he enlisted in the company of Captain Sanderson and served until his death, which occurred in camp at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. He died of the measles and necessary exposure incident to a camp and army life.
His wife, finding herself a widow with two chil- dren, determined to return to Pennsylvania. Twenty- five acres of land was set off as her share of the estate of the Reeds, and her brother-in-law, James Reed, assisted her to return to her old home. He secured the services of Hiram Owens to accompany her, and the two made the long journey on horseback, each carry- ing a stout boy before them - Rufus Reed and John B. Reed. In future years Rufus was a prominent merchant of Tiffin, Ohio, and John B. a prominent mechanic of Lancaster, and a brother-in-law of H. H. Hunter and George H. Smith, and father of the late Rufus Reed.
Richard Dennison was an Englishman, and in his young days a British soldier, a member of the King's Guard. He understood the tactics, and often gave his
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
young neighbors lessons. He was a shoemaker by trade.
In what year he came to the United States is not known; when he did come he settled in Pennsylvania. There he met, wooed and won the widow of William Reed. After their marriage they moved to Ohio and settled on the widow's share of the Reed farm, now owned by Mr. Markwood. The year of their coming is not known, but it was prior to 1818, in which year their son James was born. A second son, Nelson, studied and practiced law in Lancaster, but he died while yet a young man. Nelson married Amanda Manson and moved to Iowa. A daughter married a Tarlton merchant. This merchant was a Mr. Julian, late of Circleville. This couple in their old age moved to Tarlton, where they died and where they were buried.
James Dennison grew up in Greenfield, and received such education as the county afforded. At the proper age he went to Lancaster and was soon apprenticed to the business of a tanner, with William V. Thorne and James M. Pratt, who conducted a large tannery at the foot of Broad street.
Having completed his apprenticeship, he went to Tiffin, Ohio, and became a partner of his half-brother, Rufus Reed. After a few years they failed in business and he returned to Fairfield County. He soon formed a partnership with a young tanner in Tarlton, Allen Hamilton, brother of Col. William Hamilton. Their business was a success and was continued for some years. William Lynch worked for them in 1852, and Captain Roby in 1855. Both at the time were single men, but not long so to remain. They courted sisters, Maria and Ann Slaughter, daughters of Judge Robert
-
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F. Slaughter. The young ladies at that time lived on the hill just this side of Clarksburg. The gallants were accustomed to make the trip from Tarlton on horseback and remain during their convenience. There were no buggies and moonlight rides in those days.
Dennison married Maria and took his bride to Tarl- ton. Later, Hamilton married Miss Ann and took her to Tarlton. Some years later Hamilton moved to Columbus where he made investments that made his widow a fortune.
James Dennison moved to Kansas City in 1859, when it was a mere river landing. He followed his business for a year or two, when he became a leather merchant, which business he followed successfully, making a small fortune. It is said that his wife traded a good cow for an acre of land. That acre is now in the heart of the city.
Dennison lived in Kansas City during the civil war, and being a northern man of pronounced principles, he was often in danger of his life, the same having been often threatened. About the year 1884 he closed up his business, disposed of property and moved to Los Angeles, California, just in time to make investments that made him another fortune.
Dennison and wife lived a delightful life for fifteen years in the land of sunshine and flowers. He died October 7, 1899, leaving his wife and three children. Mr. Dennison had a long, varied and useful career. He was a prominent and honored citizen in Lancaster, Tiffin, Tarlton, Kansas City and Los Angeles. He was an intelligent, honorable, courteous gentleman, highly esteemed and respected where he died. He was one of the many distinguished men, born in Fair- field County, who made fame and fortune in the west,
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
and who to the day of his death remembered, with pleasure and affection, the fair fields over which he roamed in early life. His widow was recently killed in Kansas City by a street accident.
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