USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > Pioneer period and pioneer people of Fairfield County, Ohio > Part 25
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W. K. Thompson lives a mile or two south of the Pigeon Roost swamp, in Walnut township, Fairfield
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
County. Forty years ago the Pigeon Roost swamp was about the size of one section of land, but not square. It was covered with a forest and the ground from one to two feet often under water. Here millions of pig- eons roosted annually, and it was a great resort for sportsmen in the season. The swamp was just over the line, in the county of Licking.
Mary Hartwell Catherwood, of Hoopestown, Illi- nois, is a fine story writer. She lived in the Thomp- son neighborhood when a young girl.
She has recently completed a novel entitled "The Queen of the Swamp." The story deals with the swamp and the scenes and incidents of the neighbor- hood during her childhood. People and traditions are mentioned and preserved, and she states that the work was a labor of love in honor of her old home. Three- fifths of the Ohio part of the book are drawn from Walnut township, Fairfield County.
We learn that Mary Hartwell Catherwood was edu- cated at Granville, and that her mother was a Thomp- son. She lived near Thompson's when 10 or 12 years of age. Her father lived for a time on the Stoolfire farm, between Luray and Hebron, Ohio.
After the death of her parents she lived with her grandfather Thompson, who had moved to Hebron. While quite young she taught a school near Aetna, Licking County, and boarded with Dean German, the father of Mrs. Jacob Ulrick, of this city. Mrs. Ulrick and she were very good friends. Mrs. Ulrick pre- serves a photograph taken when Mary Hartwell was about 18 years of age. Judging from the picture she was as handsome as she is now bright and entertaining. Her first short story was written for a Newark paper. She has written several good novels for the Century
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Magazine. She was a bright, ambitious girl, with no limit to her aspirations as a writer.
And with all very modest, sensitive and retiring almost to a degree of timidity.
Her ambition, her talents and industry have been rewarded, and she now enjoys the distinction due her as one of the leading western authors. She is one of the contributors to the forthcoming book of James J. Piatt, entitled the "Hesperian," of which only 1,000 copies will be printed. It is to be an edition "de luxe." Mary Hartwell Catherwood's present home is Hoopestown, Illinois.
A BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE BLOSSER FAMILY, OF RUSH- CREEK TOWNSHIP.
BY C. E. KAGY.
0 F the pioneer families who in the early part of the nineteenth century sought homes in the then western wilderness none are better known of those who located in Rushcreek township than the Blosser family.
There were four brothers who came to this town- ship about the year 1805 or 1806, viz : George, Jacob, Abraham and Isaac Blosser. They came with their families from near Lancaster, Pa., and by the usual overland and water route, the only mode of travel in those days. When they reached the Ohio they floated down that river to Marietta and from there they came to this neighborhood on horseback, bravely enduring all the hardships incident to traveling in that early day.
GEORGE BLOSSER
In company with Jacob Hunsaker, while search- ing for a suitable location, came across a big spring located on the land now owned by John Rodafer, and sat down there, declaring that they would go no farth- er. There he built his cabin and lived a number of years, raising a large family. His sons were John G., who married Sallie Welty; George, known as "Little". George, who married a Miss Brenneman; Jacob and Isaac Blosser. The first three lived in Hocking County, Isaac lived in this township. His family consists of
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Pioneer Period and Pioneer People
ten children, first, Solomon, who married Miss Jane Myers and live on one of their farms just east of Bremen. Their children are Frank, who married Miss Shoemaker; Zetta, who married Albert Brehm and lives near Somerset; Xema, Bessie and Pearl.
Isaac Blosser, Jr., and his family live in Hocking County ; Frederick and William live in Perry County. The daughters are Mrs. Thomas Garrison, Mrs. Mason Lutz, and another sister living in Straitsville, Ohio. We were unable to learn the names of the other mem- bers of this family.
The daughters of George Blosser were Lydia, who married William Young and lived on the little farm just east of Bremen, now occupied by John Funk. Their family were Mrs. Jerry Moyer, Mrs. Mason King, Mrs. Matilda Kuhn, James Young and John Young, whose life was sacrificed to save the Union, in the late civil war. Polly married Benona Black, who built the first log cabin on the site of the residence of the late Joshua Blosser. Lewis Black, of Sandusky Soldiers' Home, is a son. They moved to Iowa in an early day.
Sallie married Christopher Welty and resided near what is now Max, Ohio. Mrs. John Sanderson is a grandchild of Christopher Welty. Rebecca married Lewis Stoltz, of Perry County, and Margaret married John Geiger. Rev. G. W. Geiger of the U. B. church, is a son of John and Margaret Geiger.
JACOB BLOSSER
and wife lived on the old Hufford farm, just south of here, now owned by George Ruff. He had one son, George Blosser, known as "Big" George, who married Miss Dorcas Hufford and moved west about the year 1857
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
ABRAHAM BLOSSER
and wife lived near Geneva, in this township. They had one son, John Blosser, and three daughters, viz: Katie, who married David Ashbaugh; Barbara, who married John Derr and Mollie, who was married to Mr. Matthew Lecrone.
ISAAC BLOSSER
was the other of the four brothers who decided to try their fortunes in this country. He was born near Lancaster, Pa., where he grew to manhood and mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Kauffman. To this union there were born fourteen children, one dying in infancy. The other thirteen grew to manhood and womanhood, and married, nearly all of them raising large families. Isaac Blosser settled on the farm now occupied by his youngest son, Samuel Blosser, one and one-half miles east of here and lived there until his death, which occurred June 1845, at the age of 68 years. Four of their children were born in Pennsylvania. The other ten were born at the old homestead. As the children grew up they assisted their father in clearing the heavy forest, and attended school just across the road after the district was organized at that place.
The oldest son, John I., married Hanna Hufford. They had six children, four of whom died within two weeks' time. The other two were Mrs. Augustine Palmer, living south of here, and Mrs. Hufford, widow of the late Daniel Hufford and mother of John Huf- ford, of this township.
Polly married Peter Stemen and formerly lived in what is known as Dutch Hollow, on the farm owned by the late Abraham Beery. Later they moved west to Allen County, Ohio, where they reared a large family, most of whom, with their children, are now residing
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in the western part of the state, following the different vocations of life, mostly successful tillers of the soil.
Andrew married Sarah Mericle and lived in Hock- ing County, where they died, Mrs. Blosser passing away in the year 1863. Their children numbered four sons and five daughters.
The oldest son, John, married Miss Fickle and had two children, one daughter, now deceased, and one son. Amos was a prosperous farmer living two miles south of here, who married Miss Lutz. Their children are Harry Nellie and Clarence.
Isaac married Miss Margaret Culp and resides in Hocking County.
Noah married Miss Jennie Oatley and lives near Logan.
Emanuel married Miss Elizabeth Culp and moved with his family from Hocking to Montgomery County, near Dayton, where thev now reside.
Elizabeth married George Wolfe and lives near Maxville. Their children are Noah; Martin, the pres- ent probate judge of Perry County, Sarah, Julia, Nancy, Andrew, Emma, Frank and Matilda.
Matilda Blosser married Henry Brennemen and moved to Elkhart, Ind., where he died. She after- wards married Rev. Hurst, of the Menonite church. She died about six years ago.
Sarah married William Nunemaker. There are two sons: Andrew, who is the newly elected treasurer of Hocking County, and Charles, who married Miss Derr and lives in Logan.
Lydia married Jacob Hoover and lived in Perry County, afterwards moving to Hocking county, where he died. She afterwards married Noah Brenneman,
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
a former resident of this township. She has now been dead about thirteen years.
Malinda married Dr. H. A. Mumaw, a successful practicing physician of Elkhart, Ind., who is also con- nected with the normal school of that place. Their children are Mrs. Phoebe Kolb, Andrew and Clara Mumaw.
Andrew Blosser afterwards married Mrs. Mow- ery, whose husband was killed in the blowing up of a boat on his return from the war, leaving a widow with thirteen children. This union was blessed with a pair of twins, which with the two sets of children made an interesting family of twenty-four. One of the twins was Andrew, Jr., who recently resided here with his family, but now lives in Junction City. Their children are Mazie and Herman.
The other twin was Lucy, who married a Mr. Poling, both of whom are now deceased.
The fourth child of Isaac Blosser was Nicholas, who married Elizabeth Hufford and lived in Perry County, near Maxville.
Nicholas Blosser died in the year 1866. Their children are Solomon Blosser, who married Miss Hun- saker, and have a large family now living in Hocking County.
Noah H., now a successful physician of Logan ; Isaac, Eli and Nicholas, Jr., all three having moved to Michigan soon after the war.
Catherine Blosser married Samuel Good and resid- ed in this township until their death. They reared a large family of children, who are among the most influential citizens of the community. Rev. N. W. Good, of Columbus, one of the most successful minis-
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ters of the Ohio conference of the M. E. Church, is a member of this family.
Isaac Blosser, Jr., married Mary ( Polly ) Reedy and resided a short time in Perry County and after- wards removed to Iowa with their family.
Nancy married Christian Berry and moved to Michigan, where they died a number of years ago.
Barbara married Reese Pugh. They lived in Bremen and different parts of this county and after- wards moved to Iowa.
Elizabeth married Abraham Miller and resided in Liberty township, near Baltimore. They raised a large family who were counted among the most high- ly respected citizens of the northern part of this coun- ty, where most of them still reside.
Martha married Oliver Grove, late of this town- ship, and a brother of Mrs. Noah Blosser, of this place. Their family numbers seven children, all living in Bremen. The oldest, Isaac Grove, was born in 1845 and at the time the war broke out was sixteen years of age, but, on seeing the "boys" leave for the front, he was filled with the spirit of patriotism and joined Company "B," Seventeenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and saw some hard service. He served three years and re-enlisted, coming home at the close with the record of a good soldier, and not yet twenty-one years of age. He married Miss Lou Hilliard. They live in Bremen where he is section foreman on the C. & M. V. R. R. They have an adopted son, Roy.
Caroline Grove is now Mrs. Oscar Seifert. Her son, Mr. George Evans, is a popular conductor on the C. & M. V. R. R. Her daughter, Clara, married Ira Grim, of this place, a brakeman on the C. & M. V.
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
Nan Grove married John Naginey, formerly a farmer of this community, but now engaged in the manufacture of carpets. Lewellyn Naginey married Ursia Moyer, and lives near Bremen. Eura Naginey married George Moyer and at present resides on the A. Graffis farm. Emma married Frank Wright. Lil- lie, Ida, and Samuel are still with their parents.
William Grove married Miss Emma Wolfe a suc- cessful school teacher of this township. Their children are Nellie, Florence, Hazel and Hattie.
Samuel Grove married a Miss Hamilton, of Rush- ville. Their children are Maggie, Dora, Harvey and Ruth.
John and Harvey Grove are still single and live with their mother.
Abraham Blosser married Miriam Graffis, sister of A. Graffis, of near this place. They lived several years in Hocking County, then in Michigan, and now in Tennessee. Their family consisted of eight children, only two of whom are now living.
Noah Blosser was born in January, 1830, and is now in his seventy-second year remarkably well pre- served for a man of his years. He received a com- mon school education and worked on his father's farm until he grew to manhood. He and Miss Matilda Grove were married June 10, 1850, and for fifty years have been constant residents of this township living most of that time on a farm and followed tilling the soil. During the stormy period of the sixties when President Lincoln was calling for volunteers, Mr. Blosser volunteered his services and enlisted in com- pany F, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, leaving a wife and eight small children
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Pioneer Period and Pioneer People
at home to battle for the comforts of life while he was fighting for his country. He served out the time of his first enlistment, though at one time on account of a severe spell of sickness, was very near death's door, the physicians having given him up to die, and but for the careful nursing of his faithful comrad, Mr. J. J. Ashbaugh, he would never have reached home alive. After getting his discharge, he re-enlisted for one year or during the war, in company D, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, January 30, 1865 and served the full year, returning to his anxiously waiting family about the first of February, 1867, with the record of a good soldier, ready to begin anew the battles of life. Mr. Blosser has served this township a number of terms as trustee, in all about fourteen years, and with credit to himself and the people of the township. He and his estimable wife are now living in Bremen in their comfortable and commodious home on the corner of Mulberry and Main streets, enjoying the fruits of their many years of unremitting toil. They have a family of nine children, all grown to be useful and industrious citi- zens.
The oldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Samuel McVeigh, and for a number of years lived at the old Huston homestead, having recently disposed of the same, they are now living temporarily in the Mrs. John Kinnen property.
Their children are Mary, who married Clinton Moyer, and have one daughter, Dorothy; Leland, Nellie, Dallas and Joseph.
John Blosser married Miss Dell Glenn. . They have four children, Dean, Orra, Dewey and Leota. They are at present living in Lancaster.
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
Laura Blosser married William Sanderson. Their children are, Charles and Frank, both exemplary young men. They live on a farm just over the line in Perry County.
Charles I. Blosser, for a number of years one of Fairfield County's most successful teachers, now of Vanwert, Ohio, married Miss Clara Huston. About fifteen years ago they moved to Vanwert County where he has not missed a year in teaching school, having taught together, twenty-four winters. Their children are Hattie, Otis, Emma, Xema and Ruth.
Stephen Blosser married Miss Zetta Davis. They live on the old Huston homestead in the eastern part of this township, having recently, with brother Samuel, purchased the property of their brother-in-law, Samuel McVeigh. The children of Stephen and Zetta Blosser are, George, Verda, Meda, Fred and Clarence. Sarah a bright little girl died a few years ago from the effects of a severe burn caused by her clothing having caught fire.
Samuel Blosser is still working in "single har- ness' and at present is associated with his brother Stephen in the agricultural business.
Robert Blosser married Miss Maggie Black and for a number of years managed one of Dr. H. C. Brisons farms near Hebron. He is at present a bridge carpenter on the C. & M. V. R. R. Their children are Glenn, Emile, Dewey and Ross Wayne.
Noah Blosser, Jr., is still of the opinion of his brother Samuel that it is good for a man to be alone. He was for a number of years a clerk with H. M. Shel- hamer, of this place, and now is head clerk in a large . shoe store in Chillicothe, Ohio.
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George Blosser, the youngest son of the Noah Blosser family, married Miss Anna Shull and is fore- man of a section on the C. & M. V., located at Clarks- ville, Ohio. They have two children Russell and Edna.
Samuel Blosser, the youngest son of Isaac Blos- ser, Sr., married Miss Betty McDougal and resides at the old homestead, having spent his whole life on the farm where he was born. Like his brother Noah, when his country was calling for men to fight her battle he offered his services, enlisting in company C, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and served the 100 days for which he had enlisted. Providence has seemingly dealt very harshly with him, as he has buried a loving wife and five children. Yet he lives in the abiding hope that the Lord knoweth best, and that whatever He does will be redound to His name's honor and glory.
The children of Samuel Blosser now living are, Libbie who married E. B. Conner. They live in Bremen and have two children. Mr. Conner is the efficient clerk in G. A. Staker & Company's drug and furniture store, and also clerk of the Bremen corpora- tion.
Edward Blosser, married Dora Myers. They live on the home farm which he manages for his father. They have one daughter, May.
CELIA BLOSSER
Celia Blosser married George McCandlish. Mr. McCandlish died several years ago leaving a widow and two small children, Lee and Ruth.
The children not living were Isabel, Ida, who married Samuel Focht, Simeon, and Effie, both of whom died young, and Joshua, whose death occurred
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
a few months ago. Joshua married Miss Myrtle Moyer a grand-daughter of George Blosser, who came from Pennsylvania. They had one daughter, Inez.
Samuel Blosser afterward married Mary Beery Schatzer, widow of the late David Schatzer. To this union was born one son, Samuel, Jr.
Samuel's mother married John Welty, who owned the farm now occupied by Solomon Blosser, where they lived until Mr. Welty's death, after which she made her home with her son at the old homestead until her death which occurred about twenty years ago at the ripe old age of ninety-four.
SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.
C HE Sons of the Revolution of Columbus, Ohio, have furnished the following list of such sol- diers, who lived in Fairfield County. We have not attempted to verify the list, but take it for granted that it is substantially correct. There are other names that we believe properly belong to this list-Rev. John. Wiseman, buried at New Salem; James Holmes, buried at Wells graveyard, Licking County, and Gen. James Wells, buried at the Wells graveyard, near Hooker. William McFarland, father of the late Walter McFarland, buried at Wells grave- yard. The descendants of these men claim with confi- dence that they were soldiers under Washington; but we have not the data to verify it; also, Michael Rice, of Hocking township. Emanuel Ruffner was a team- ster in the war of the revolution.
Dr. Robert Wilcox was a surgeon in the Revolu- tion; John and George Hill, both died in Walnut township : Rev. Cradlebaugh, of Rush Creek township.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION OF COLUMBUS LIST.
John Alspach, Michael Alspach, David Buffing- ton, Jonathan Burnside, Joshua Burton, Benjamin Car- lisle, Benjamin Cave, Jonathan Center, John Colman, Johnson Cook, Low Courts, James Crawford, Joshua Critchfield, John Cross, William Davis, Philip Ebright, Thomas Elsey, Chris. Embrek, Henry Eyman, John
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.
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
Fisher, Henry Fitzgerald, Elijah Hedges, Michael Hensel, William Hopwood, Ephraim Hubbart, Edward Irvin, William Johnson, John C. King, Daniel Lam- brecht, Robert McClelland, John Martin, James Mor- ris, John Murphey, Walter Newman, William Priest, Jacob Ream, John Reynolds, William Rigby, Elijan Russell, Mathias Sheets, William Shumaker, John (c) hlife, David Smith, Jonathan Smith, Peter Stur- gcon, Thomas Torrence, Benjamin Turner, Bernard Valentine, George Valentine, Peter Woodring, David Wright, Christian Young.
THE FRIEND FAMILY.
J OHN FRIEND, Joseph Friend, Jacob Friend, Jonas Friend and William Friend, five brothers, came to Ohio from Friend's Cove, Bedford County, Penn., early in the last century, the brothers who first came, with their aged mother, set- tled in Thorn township, Perry County ; but later all save William, came over to Fairfield and during their lives were well-known and honored citizens of Walnut, Richland and Pleasant townships. The mother and four of the sons are buried in the Methodist grave- yard at New Salem.
Jonas, who was an honored member of the Primi- tive Baptist Church during his life, was buried in the Ruffner graveyard, located on what is now the Mrs. W. W. Friend farm, in Richland township.
William Friend and Banner Friend, sons of Joseph Friend, were prominent farmers, one of Walnut and the other of Pleasant township. W. W. Friend, John Friend and Elijah were sons of Jonas. They were good citizens and led an honorable and useful life. The two first named married daughters of Col. Joseph Ruffner. The wife of Jonas Friend was a sister of the late Thomas Rissler, of Richland township. The writer was well acquainted with Jonas and William Friend. They were Christian gentlemen of the best type and honored and respected by all who knew them.
Elijah Friend and wife, Mrs. W. W. Friend, Es- tella Bauman and family, Elizabeth, the widow of the late John Friend, J. W. Friend and family, Mrs. Ed-
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
ward Geiger of New Salem, Mrs. Jacob Barr and chil- dren, Mrs. Nettie Leith and Mr. and Mrs. L. Eyman and family are descendants and relatives of Jonas Friend.
Mrs. Elmira Puller of Rushville, Samuel Friend and Mrs. Dr. Lewis of Rushville, Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam Love of Perry County, descendants and relatives of William Friend.
Mr. and Mrs. William Eyman and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Mast of Thurston, Mr. and Mrs. Orren Friend and family, Mr. and Mrs. Banner E. Friend and family, Will and Charles Holliday, de- scendants of Joseph Friend.
George W. Friend of Hardin County, is a son of John Friend, Sr. The late Jacob Friend of Pleasant- ville, was a son of Jacob Friend, Sr.
THE YOUNG FAMILY.
BY C. F. KAGY.
W ITH the coming of the Youngs to this neigh- borhood, begins the history of Rushcreek township, which really began in the year 1799, when the Ashbaughs found their way up from the Ohio to this locality, having come here from Pennsylvania.
The Youngs are of Irish descent, David Young, the great-grandfather of H. W. Young, having been born in County Cork, Ireland, in the year 1753, and emigrated to Virginia about 1770 and settled soon after in the State of Maryland, near Hagerstown, at which place Edward Young, the pioneer of this township, was born.
Shortly after this time the family moved to Juniata County, Pa., where the family grew to manhood, and in 1799, Edward Young, four sisters and two half brothers left their home in the Keystone State to try their fortunes in the then far West.
Edward Young, after looking around for a suita- ble location, decided to take up the land now owned by Mrs. Mary Young and her sons, just east of Bre- men, at whose place the reunion of the Young family was held recently. Here he built his cabin and here his ax was laid at the root of the forest tree, his sisters making their home with him and keeping house for him until the spring, April 2, 1802, when he married Miss Rachel Miller, who had come here with her parents, arriving on New Year's day, 1800. To this union
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Of Fairfield County, Ohio.
were born eleven children, eight sons and three daugh- ters.
(I) Asa died in infancy.
(2) David married Susan Beery and resided for a short time in this township, and about 1860 moved to Putnam County, where most of their descendants now reside.
(3) John married Elizabeth Edwards of Seneca County, Ohio, where they lived and died. Their three grand-children are (1), Mrs. Jane Cridelbaugh, who lives near Springfield, Ohio; (2), Rachel Hawkins of Council Grove, Kansas, and (3), Mary -- , who lives in Tiffin, Ohio.
(4) Margaret Young married Jacob Moyer and resided for a few years in Rushcreek. From there they moved to Walnut, near New Salem, and from there to near Colfax, on the land now owned by their sons, Thomas and John Moyer. Their children are: Edward Moyer, who married Miss Rebecca Davis and resided in Missouri, where his children now live. After the death of his first wife, he remarried and now resides in Columbus, Ohio. (2) Thomas Moyer married Catharine Jack-
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