USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > Pioneer period and pioneer people of Fairfield County, Ohio > Part 24
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John N. Wolfe, son of Salem, is a resident of Lan- caster. He is an engineer by profession, devoting his time principally to surveying. He is the present very competent city engineer.
The youngest daughter of Salem Wolfe married H. W. Griswold, now of the Gazette. She died sev- eral years since. Two daughters live in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jessie and Jennie Griswold are grand daugh- ters.
Isaac Wolfe, son of Valentine, came with his father in 1814. He married a sister of Martin Landis, and lived for many years on a farm near Clearport, where he also operated a flouring mill. He moved from Mad- ison to Pleasant township, where he spent a few years of his old age. He died in Lancaster at the home of Mrs. Jacob Giesey, his daughter.
Isaac Wolfe was a most excellent man, and was highly esteemed where he lived. A grandson. Perry Wolfe, lives in Lancaster, devoting most of his time teaching school.
The Spangler-Wolfe families are connected with many honored people of Madison - the Youngs, Shaeffers, Millers, Stricklers, Landis, Hay and Becks of Hocking.
JOHN AUGUSTUS
One of the early associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas was John Augustus, of Clearcreek township. He was on the bench as early as 1825 or '26, and served five years. He was a prominent man in his day, and highly esteemed. He spent the greater
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part of his life in Clearcreek township. His farm was a little south of the old Shartle tavern, this side of Tarlton. He was buried in the Augustus graveyard, which was on or near his farm. His family consisted of two sons and five daughters.
His son David was a farmer, but for a few years of his life he lived in Lancaster.
His son John was a merchant for some years in Tarlton. He failed in business and moved west, where he died.
Col. Wm. Hamilton, surveyor of Amanda town- ship, married his daughter Rebecca. Col. Hamilton was a first-class surveyor and a good farmer. Mrs. S. J. Wolfe (Mary Hamilton) is a granddaughter of Judge Augustus.
Daniel Ream of Madison township married Sarah Augustus. Late in life he moved to Jackson County, Mo., where he died. What relation he was to the Abraham Ream family we cannot state. He had a brother named Samuel and another named John, who in his old age made cigars in Lancaster.
The father of Daniel Ream was Samuel, who came from Germany. His mother's name was Susan Wunderlick, daughter of Count Wunderlick. His mother died, and was buried at Carlisle, Fenn., Sam- uel Ream, the father, died at Daniel Ream's home, and was buried at Mechanicsburg, this county. Ream had a sister, Polly, who married Moses Wetzel. Mrs. Mary Summers, daughter of Daniel, lives in Kansas City, Mo.
Robert Barnet of Madison married Elizabeth Au- gustus. She died in a short time after her marriage.
Rev. Thomas Drake, once well known in Lancas- ter, married Hannah Augustus. Drake was a provost
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marshal here during the war. He went from here to Somerset, O., and engaged in merchandising. So far as we know he is now dead.
John Earhart, a miller by trade, married Mary Augustus. Both are now dead.
There are children of Daniel Ream living, but we do not know of any one bearing the name of Judge Augustus.
Ream, Hamilton, Drake and Barnet were men of the highest respectability, and in all respects good and useful men. So little attention has been paid in this county to family or pioneer history that but few people now living ever heard of Judge Augustus.
Forty-five years ago Col. Hamilton was the county surveyor of this county. We venture to say that not five men in fifty are aware of that fact to-day. Daniel Ream was a splendid man. How many men in the county remember him? Thomas Drake cut quite a figure here 38 years ago. He is now forgotten.
Such is fame!
THE SHARP FAMILY
The political history of the family of Joseph Sharp, Sr., one of the first settlers of Belmont County, Ohio, is one of the most remarkable in the history of the state.
Robert H. Sharp, of Sugar Grove, was on Satur- day nominated by the Democrats as their candidate for representative. Conceding his election in Novem- ber, and that he will serve the usual two terms, his family will have served the state as members of the house and senate of the general assembly of Ohio in an unbroken line of succession from the first legisla- ture to the end of Ohio's first century.
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Joseph Sharp, Sr., was one of the prominent men of Belmont County in its early history. He was a member of the first Ohio legislature, and in 1804 and 1805 a member of the senate. He was returned to the house in 1807 and was re-elected for the years 1808, 1810 and 1813. Joseph Sharp, Jr., reared a family in Belmont County, and about the year 1838 settled in this county on a fine farm just below Sugar Grove, where his son, William, now resides. He soon became a contractor on the Hocking Canal and built for the state what has always been known as Sharp's dam on the Hockhocking. He was a man of energy and force of character, and soon became prominent in his new home. In 1842, just six years after coming to the county, he was elected a member of the Ohio legisla- ture. He served but one term and returned to the management of his farm. He lived to a good old age, rearing a large family. One of his daughters is the wife of Daniel Stukey. His sons, William and George, are farmers; his son James studied medicine and practiced his profession for years in Sugar Grove and later in Lancaster. From here he went to Kansas City, Mo., where he lived a few years and then returned to Sugar Grove broken down in health. He was recently killed by a railroad accident near his home. Robert L. Sharp, son of Joseph, Jr., was also a farmer near his father. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, of good habits and good standing in his neigh- borhood. He was a good business man and wise enough to invest early in Kansas City property, which became valuable. He was elected a member of the Ohio legislature in the years 1864 and 1865, and served with credit to himself and honor to his constituents. His son, Robert, just nominated for the same office,
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will doubtless be elected. He is a young man of good habits and good character. He resides upon his father's old farm. In addition to his farm he manages, with profit, a good stone quarry. There is everything in the past history of his family to stimulate him to an honorable and useful career. A century of honorable living and precept is behind him, and a future, such as he may make it, is before him. That he may prove worthy of the high honor conferred upon him and of the esteem in which he is held, is the wish of all who know hin. .
PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY.
ARTZ
J
ACOB ARTZ came to Fairfield County about the year 1818, from Rockingham County, Va. He was one of the many hardy sons of Rock- ingham County who for half a century dom- inated the eastern part of this county.
His wife was a Homan and their home was on a farm just south of Berne Station, more recently owned and improved by his son, John Artz, now 76 years of age and a resident of Lancaster. Jacob Artz died in the prime of life, along in the thirties. His widow, in due time, married Nathan Weatherby. They lived upon the home farm until their death. Weatherby was a well known man sixty years ago. He came here from New Jersey, where he had been a tanner. For several years he was a citizen of Lancaster. In 1832 and 1834 he was the sheriff of Fairfield County and enjoyed a season of popularity. After leaving the sheriff's office he became a horse dealer, and was a great patron of the turf. No race meeting of his day was complete without Nathan Weatherby and in most races his colors were worn by the very fast horses. After his marriage to Mrs. Artz he became a citizen of Berne township, where he continued to deal in and breed good stock until the day of his death, about the year 1848. He came to his death in a very singular manner. He never could bear the sight of blood without fainting.
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He was kicked by a horse and when he supposed the wound had healed he told his step-son, John Artz, that he would like to look at it. He did so and saw a trace of blood ; he fainted and died immediately in the arms of John Artz.
GRIFFITH
Isaac Griffith was a native of Lancaster County, Penn. His wife was a Quaker woman, but her name is unknown. He came with his family to this county in the year 1818, his son Isaac and wife being mem- bers of his family. They lived, during the winter, in Christian King's home, that stood near where Dr. Boerstler now lives. There William Griffith, son of the younger Isaac, was born. In the spring of 1819 the family moved to a farm near Amanda, where the old gentleman purchased about 300 acres of good land, known in part as the Leather's farm. A part of this land, if not all, is now owned by the heirs of M. A. Leist.
Isaac Griffith, the elder, has been dead more than 44 years. His sons were Isaac, James, John, Elliott and Samuel. The mother was named Polly Williams, the son of Isaac 2d, was William, whose first wife was a Welshamer. His second wife was a daughter of the late Isaac Kerns. He has lived all of his life at the old home place of his father, on the pike near the crossing of Clearcreek, but very recently moved to Amanda. Isaac was another son and there were three other brothers of William, viz: Elliott, Samuel and John.
James Griffith, son of Isaac, was married in Penn- sylvania. The wife was a sister of James Lytle. The sons of James were Thomas, Isaac, Samuel and
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William. Thomas married a Walters, granddaughter of Samuel Peters, the founder of the Peters fam- ily.
Thomas Griffith owns one of the finest farms in Amanda township. He is a very prominent and useful citizen, and his wife a most estimable woman.
William, brother of Thomas, resides upon a good farm near Hooker. His wife is the daughter of the late Joseph Gundy. They live among good people and are highly esteemed.
John Griffith, brother of James, married Polly Sweyer, daughter of John Sweyer, a once famous Lancaster tavern keeper on the Shæffer corner. His wife was a niece of Col. John W. Noble and Henry Dubble, old-time Lancaster people.
Samuel, brother of John, married a Miss Young, a daughter of a pioneer of Madison township. His only child, a daughter, married Robert Wiley, son of John Wiley, in his time the great cattle man of this county. He at one time owned 1,500 acres of Clear- creek land.
Elliott, brother of Samuel, married a daughter of Isaac Shæffer, who lived where Samuel V. Wolfe now resides.
The sons of Elliott Griffith were Isaac, Jasper, George and William.
This family, in its history of eighty years in this county, has made an honorable record and has made alliances by marriage with many distinguished families. They have owned, and still own large farms of fertile land, which they cultivate with skill and profit. They have been, and still are prominent in many neighbor- hoods.
In politics they are Republicans, with a Whig an- cestry. William, who was born in Lancaster in No-
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vember, 1818, voted for General Harrison in 1840, and Lincoln in 1860.
Frederick Leathers, of whom Isaac Griffith pur- chased his land, was one of the very first settlers of his neighborhood. His name appears among the tax- payers of 1806. He kept an old-fashioned tavern on the old Circleville road. This tavern was kept open by Isaac Griffith, Sr., until 1854. He was one of the land- marks in the early days.
Philip Shartle kept a tavern on the old Chillicothe road. He was the grandfather of Isaac Julian, Julian's mother is still living. She lived in Lancaster in 1804.
Farther north on the old road was the Kirk- wood house. It was near this house where Thomas Ewing and his deputies arrested a gang of counter- feiters, who were tried, convicted and sent to prison in 1818.
A HISTORY
OF A PROMINENT RUSHCREEK PIONEER FAMILY
LEIB
J OSEPH LEIB came with his wife from York County, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, very early in the century, but the exact date is not known. They settled on Rushcreek, in Rushcreek township, two miles north of Bremen. His wife was a sister of the mother of Hon. Daniel Kel- ler, late of Pleasant township. They were good, old fashioned German people, spoke the German lan- guage, and read the German Bible. They were Chris- tian people and members of the United Brethren church. They were a thrifty couple, honest and in- dustrious. Like all the pioneers, they spun their flax on the small wheel, this being the work of the old women ; the young maidens spun the wool on the large wheel, walking barn floor, or some other large floor, for many miles, carrying the thread for a few cuts of yarn. They colored their yarn and wove their own cloth and then made it into garments. Mothers and daughters often clothed, in this way, a family of eight to twelve persons. The good old mothers were de- voted to their families and loved their work and en- joyed it.
Joseph Leib secured about one section of land which he held until his children were old enough to occupy it. He built a mill on his home place which was run by the water of Rushcreek. This was the
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second mill built on Rushcreek. The old mill is still standing. The old road which crossed the creek at the mill came up the bank of the creek - and that is why the old brick house, built by George Beery seventy- five years ago, the Ashbaugh and the Weaver houses, now stand so far from the road. In the old brick house Solomon Beery was born, but we believe that his brothers and sisters were born in the old cabin on the same farm. i
Joseph Leib and wife had a family of four sons and seven daughters. Joseph, David, John and Elias were the sons. Joseph married Clarissa Allen - she came from Waterford, Connecticut, to Rushcreek to teach school. Joseph broke up the school by marry- ing the teacher. Miss Allen was of the same family as Dr. Silas Allen, of Royalton, Ohio. Joseph suc- ceeded his father as master and owner of the old home- stead and spent his life there. His son, Samuel Leib, is a distinguished and wealthy lawyer of California. His son Joseph is a horse breeder in Champaign County, Illinois. Hamilton died of disease contracted in the army. A daughter married Mason Fauley (half brother of M. C. Miller), of Champaign County, Illi- nois. Another daughter married Sheriff Barbee of Columbus, and still another a wealthy Californian.
Mrs. Joseph Leib was an educated, cultured wo- man, and took an interest in the education of her children. They attended school for a time in Lan- caster. W. H. Kooken of the Gazette, attended the wedding of two of the daughters, and at the marriage of the second one he was the groom's best man,and Miss Elizabeth Doty was bridesmaid. There was a large attendance of friends and they spent the night there. What sleep the gentlemen indulged in was at
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the barn - as the house was too small for so large a party. The morning after the Fauley wedding the . whole party drove to Michael Miller's for the wed- ding breakfast. The young people had jolly times at such weddings and greatly enjoyed themselves.
John married a Miss Williams of the neighbor- hood and moved to Crawford County, Illinois. There he engaged in farming and there he died. His son, Captain John Leib, lives in Illinois, and his sister Jane lives with him. Benjamin and James are both western farmers. Daniel Leib married Barbary Les- lie. He moved to Highland County, Ohio, in 1839, where he purchased a farm and a flouring mill. In a few years he fell through a hatchway in his mill and was killed. His widow moved, with her family, to Westerville, to educate her children. Joseph, David and Enos were sons, but their place of residence we cannot give. Elias Leib married Delilah Hill from the neighborhood of Rushville. He once owned the fine farm now owned by the Ashbaugh heirs above Bremen, and up to middle life was a prosperous far- mer. He sold his farm and opened a dry goods store in New Salem in the spring of 1850. In two or three years he moved his stock of goods to Millersport, where he hoped to make some money. Fate was against him and in a few years he closed out his business at a loss. He dealt largely in grain, and his losses in this trade broke him up. Amos and Henry grew to be young men at Millersport, and from there Henry ventured out upon the world. He married Kate Sites, daughter of Frederick Sites of Pleasant township. In three or four years his wife died. He then went west and now resides in Oberlin, Kansas. He has been treasurer of his county.
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Amos D. Leib married Elizabeth Pope of Walnut · township, an estimable woman of many accomplish- ments. Mr. Leib lived and died in or near Millers- port. Mrs. Leib's mother was a Haver, one of several gentle and refined sisters. A son and daughter sur- vive A. D. Leib. The daughters of Joseph Leib were as follows: Catharine married John Frey and they settled on a farm adjoining the old home or near it. Dr. M. Frey of Logan, was their son. Their son, Henry Frey, married a daughter of John Shaw. A daughter married Thomas Paden. Benjamin Frey married Mary Leib; they had no children. They lived and died on a farm near the old home. Margaret married William Black of Perry County, Ohio. A daughter whose name we cannot give married a Mr. Mains from a northern county. Barbara . married Frederick Fisher; they were farmers, but spent their old age in Bremen.
Susan married Amos Davis. He was a good old Presbyterian and highly esteemed. He owned a farm and a mill at the bend of Rushcreek near Geneva. They were the parents of Mrs. Samuel Doty, long a well known and highly esteemed lady of Lancaster, and the wife of a once prosperous merchant of the old firm of Kinkead & Doty.
Amos Davis, in his old age, moved to Indiana, where he died several years since.
Elizabeth married Ralph Cherry, for many years a substantial citizen of Walnut township. Late in life with a large family they moved to Hancock County, Ohio. Their eldest son was named Joseph, for the old grandfather.
The Leib family received Christian training and had set before them every day a good example, and
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through four generations their training has borne fruit in the good lives and good character of a widely ex- tended family.
The old German father and mother had family worship morning and night. It was the custom for both to pray, first the old father and then the old mother. Their prayers were not empty sounding words - it was "the language of the soul," and a deep impression was made upon the kneeling children.
"From scenes like these old Scotia's grandeur springs," That makes her loved at home, revered abroad,
Princes and lords are but the breath of Kings,
"An honest man 's the noblest work of God."
Samuel F. Leib, the eminent lawyer, resides at San Jose, California. ' He is a trustee of the Stanford University of California. The wife of Joseph Leib, Sr., was a German woman named Elizabeth Seitz, and as stated, a sister of the mother of Hon. Daniel Keller. She was a true pioneer helpmate. Like Ger- man women of that period, she did a man's work. She learned to run the mill, and has been known to do it and handle sacks of grain for a day at one time. She could stand in a half bushel measure and shoulder a sack of wheat. Mr. Leib died in 1839 and his wife a few years later, in 1841, both aged 72 years. That is the record upon the grave stones.
The first deed on record in the name of Joseph Leib is dated August, 1817, for about 300 acres of land on which the old mill now stands. The grantors were Carpenter & Shallenberger. The soldier record of this family is a good one, part of which has already been given. There were 17 children, II of whom only, lived to be well known.
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Elias Leib had three sons in the army. Amos Davis Leib was a member of Company F, First Ohio Cav- alry. He served until near the close of the war, when ill health compelled him to resign. He served for some time as regimental quartermaster and at the time he left the service he was acting Brigade Quartermaster.
He served with distinction and retired with honor. It could not have been otherwise, for he was a man of ability and a patriot. He retired to his Island home, Buckeye Lake, and spent the remainder of his days in useful occupation and the society of his family. He took great interest in the success of the Republican party, and gave much of his time in its service. He was often a delegate to county conventions and once or twice at least to state conventions. He was an alternate to the Cleveland convention, and was then elected an alternate, pledged to John Sherman, to the Chicago convention. He attended this convention, accompanied by his wife. He died in December, 1892.
Henry F. Leib was a member of Captain Perry's Company, the 90th Ohio Infantry. He served hon- orably throughout the war and returned with his com- pany to Lancaster. He was Regimental Adjutant at the time of his discharge. He is now a prominent politician of Kansas, and at present is the postmaster of Oberlin.
Elias Newton was a soldier in the 196th Ohio, and belonged to General Hancock's corps. He now resides in Marengo, Iowa. Joseph H. C. Leib resides at Prai- rie City, Iowa.
The wife of Joseph Leib, Jr., Miss Allen, was an educated woman from Waterford, Connecticut. She was a relative of General Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame. She died in the year 1864 or '65. Joseph Leib,
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Jr., lived to be 80 years of age, and died at his father's old home. Both were buried near the old people in a pretty cemetery on the old farm. A few days before his death he sent for Joseph, the son of his old friend, Andrew Shaw. He told him that he had once wronged his father and could not die in peace without confes- sion and restitution. He said that when a young man he and a companion escorted two young women to some kind of a gathering and that Andrew Shaw and his companion took the girls from them, or as it was called, cut them out, in other words, the girls treated them rudely, gave them the mitten.
Partly for revenge and partly for mischief, he and his friend followed them home and cut the stirrups from their saddles.
He told Joseph that he desired to pay the value of the stirrups to him, and asked him to name the amount. The money was declined and the debt for- given. Sixty years had rolled around and time failed to efface the wrong he had done from his memory. Joseph Leib was a good man and this story will not lessen the esteem in which he is held.
THE PIGEON ROOST SWAMP
One of the beautiful locations in this county is the Fletcher chapel, a handsome Methodist Church, in the northeast corner of Liberty township. It is situated on the south line of the fine estate of Isaac Finkbone. In the graveyard adjoining lie buried the remains of old Dr. Waddel, the Gill brothers, the Glicks, the Par- rishes, Cools, James Jeffries and Elias and Amos D. Leib.
Dr. Waddel's grave is marked by a handsome mon- ument. The Gill brothers all have handsome granite
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monuments and their graves are kept in good order. This place is about six miles from Baltimore, two from Kirkersville, and five from Millersport. From the graveyard to the south and east is as fine a land- scape as can often greet the eyes. The fine homes of Fred Mauger, W. K. Thompson and others in Walnut township, and Luray, and many fine homes in Licking county, backed by a range of beautiful hills; and the old Pigeon roost swamp, now a paradise of farms and the fertile valley of the Licking are in full view.
A drive from this point over a zigzag road to Luray is one long to be remembered.
One-half mile north of Luray, on the hill, is the old Wells-Holmes burying ground. In 1812 a church was built here of logs, on the land of George Wells, Sr., and called the " Wells Meeting House." Later a brick church was built, but time has changed things and the church is no more. George Wells, Sr., was buried here October 2, 1831,and his wife, Elizabeth ( Holmes), August 16, 1827. George Wells, Jr., was buried here November 9, 1848. Thomas Holmes, a brother of James Holmes, Sr., was buried there October 8, 1822, aged 78 years.
James Holmes, Sr., of Walnut township, Fairfield County, was buried there in 1823, and his wife, Anna (Whittaker), in 1829. James Holmes, Jr., in 1848, aged 62 years. All prominent, influential men. The graveyard is not very well cared for. From this grave- yard, looking west, over the Licking, is a prospect as fine as can be seen in any county in Ohio. Fertile farms and beautiful homes greet the eye in great numbers.
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