USA > Ohio > Fayette County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 49
USA > Ohio > Madison County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 49
USA > Ohio > Pickaway County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 49
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and economy of his worthy wife. On first locat- ing on his new tract, Mr. Cockerill erected a log cabin, which was common in that period, but, be- ing of a progressive spirit, he was not content to live in that humble structure long, and erected the first frame dwelling on the pike between Washing- ton C. H. and New Martinsburg. In 1882, his present handsome residence was built, which cost $2,400. It is finished and furnished in a neat and tasty manner, thus indicating the refinement of its inmates, who are greatly respected in this locality.
The original of this sketch devotes his entire time and attention to general farming, and has been more than ordinarily successful in his under- taking, ranking among the wealthy and influential agriculturists of this section. Of the nine chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Cockerill, one is de- ceased. William Newton was born July 14, 1832; he married Sarah Geller, has nine children, and re- sides in Highland Township. Martha Jane was born October 13, 1834, and makes her home in Washington C. H .; she is the widow of John Wil- son, by whom she had eight children; Edward E., the third child, will be spoken of elsewhere in this volume. Jacob S. was born July 20, 1839, and was married to Hannah R. Lymes, by whom he had nine children; they make their home in Perry Township, this county. Thomas R., who served for three years in the Civil War, was born Febru- ary 18, 1842, and married Eliza Marchant; he died in 1884, leaving a widow and one child; Amelia C., born November 26, 1844, married John S. Fisher, by whom she has one child; they reside in this township. James W. was born August 18. 1847; he married Mary M. White, and they reside on a portion of the old homestead ; they have three children. Samuel S. was born June 12, 1850; he is the father of four children by his marriage with Mary Alice Craig, and resides in Washington C. H. Eldridge W. was born January 28, 1853, married Eliza J. Craig, and resides in the above- named city; they have two children. Four of the sons took part in the late war: Newton, Edward E., Thomas R. and .Jacob S.
Mr. and Mrs. Cockerill are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which denomination they have been connected for
sixty-five years. Our subject has always been a great worker in all church affairs, and is one of the leading singers in his congregation. In public matters, he has been Trustee of his township and a Director of the School Board. In politics, he votes the Republican ticket. Eleven years ago, our sub- ject and his estimable wife celebrated their golden wedding, and last September commemorated the sixtieth anniversary of that event. They have forty grandchildren and twenty-nine great-grand- children. They bear the good-will of all who know them, and their friends are as numerous as their acquaintances.
OIIN T. MANTLE. This gentleman, who ranks among the prominent and wealthy agriculturists of Pickaway County, is one of the oldest residents of Darby Township, having been born January 2, 1841. He has there- fore witnessed the growth and development of this section from its primitive condition to pros- perous farms and thriving villages. Mr. Mantle is at present residing in this township, where he is respected as a man possessing correct judgment and a love of truth and justice.
Our subject is the son of David Mantle, who was born in Chillicothe, this State, in 1808. His father, the grandfather of him of whom we write, was born in the Keystone State and was of German descent. The last-named gentleman was a tanner and farmer by occupation, and came to this State in the early part of the nineteenth century, probably in 1801 or 1802, as our subject has in his possession deeds purchased in February, 1803, in the township of Chillicothe, Ross County. David Mantle was born in 1808, and made that place his home until a lad of eight years, when he came with the family to Darby Township. Here the grandfather pur- chased a small tract of land, built a log cabin and soon after started a tannery, which was the first in this section of country, and in this line of busi- ness he was very successful. Indians were very numerous in that early day, but Mr. Mantle being
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on friendly terms with them, did not find them very troublesome. He was a very large man, weighing four hundred and fourteen pounds, and departed this life when a little past middle age.
David Mantle learned the trade of a tanner from his father, with which occupation he added that of a farmer. His educational advantages were limited to the common schools, where he received a fair education. Ile purchased the farm which is the property of our subject in 1835, cleared the land and erected the first hewed-log house in this locality. He was industrious and persevering and at his death owned two hundred acres of valuable land. He departed this life at the age of sixty-three years, in 1872.
Mrs. Matilda (Noland) Mantle, the mother of our subject, was born in Maryland, and by her union with Mr. Mantle became the mother of four children, all of whom are living, namely: Dunean, Isaac, John T. and Miranda, Mrs. Fitzgerald. She died in hier seventieth year, firm in the faith of the Christian Church. of which denomination her husband was also a member.
John T. Mantle was reared to man's estate on the old home farm and attended the log school- house in his district, where he acquired the rudi- ments of an education. The school was conducted on the subscription plan and young Mantle had to walk over a mile to and from the temple of learn- ing. He began life on his own responsibility when reaching his majority and operated the home farm in partnership with his father for a number of years, and at the death of the latter purchased the homestead.
July 4, 1877, Miss Susan Rogenrife, who was born in Hartleton, Union County, Pa., became the wife of our subject. To them have been granted three children: Charles N., Esther and Laura. Mr. Mantle has added to his possessions, and at the present time is the owner of an estate containing three hundred and thirteen acres of land, all in one body. His estate is well improved with substantial buildings and machinery, and in addition to the cereals, our subject raises sheep, cattle and swine, in which industry he reaps a handsome income.
Mrs. Mantle is connected with the Christian Church, in which body she is an active worker and
liberal contributor. The political views of our subject led him to identify himself with the Dem- ocratie party. Ile has never been an office-seeker, preferring to let those hold positions who have more time to give.
OHIN A LUTZ, Attorney-at-law in Circle- ville. A volume dedicated to the pioneers of Pickaway County would be incomplete were no mention made of the Lutz family, various members of which labored in behalf of its advancement during the early part of this century, contributing to its growth with a self-sacrifice which entitles them to the gratitude of the present and future generations.
Amid the foot-hills of the Lehigh Mountains, in what is now Lehigh County, Pa., Samuel Lutz, father of our subject, was born March 13, 1789. Though it was nearly sixty years since his great- grandfather landed in the New World, German was the language used by his parents, and the cus- toms of the Fatherland were followed as closely as though they still lived among the vine-clad hills of the valley of the Neckar. From the settlement near the Lehigh River, the parents of Samuel Lutz moved to the Shamokin Valley, Northumberland County, Pa., whence, in 1794, they made a second removal to the Buffalo Valley, in the same county.
September 7, 1802, the Lutz family left their Pennsylvania home, making the long journey to Oho in a canvas-covered wagon, and on October 9 reached Lancaster. The father of Samuel Lutz purchased a farm near Adelphi, where Samuel grew to be a man, married Elizabeth Fetherolf, October 15, 1811, and became the head of a family of fourteen children, eight of whom still survive. His early inclinations were in the direction of mathematics and his ambition led him to the study of surveying, which he afterward followed the most of his life. When the War of 1812 inter- rupted the ordinary course of events, he enlisted in Col. James Renick's mounted militia and was in active service for nineteen days. then returned home.
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Samuel Lutz served for many years as Justice of the Peace, and for four terms was a member of the State Legislature. During the War of the Rebellion, he was a vigorous supporter of the Union. He belonged to a patriotic family, his father having served in the Revolutionary War, some of his kindred in the Mexican War, himself in the War of 1812 and several of his grandchil- dren in the Civil War. He died at his old home- stead in Salt Creek Township, September 1, 1890, aged one hundred and one years, five months and eighteen days, leaving to his descendants the memory of many worthy and unselfish deeds, unswerving integrity and nobility of character.
The subject of this sketch was born in Salt Creek Township, December 29, 1824, and was reared on the old homestead. He engaged in teaching for a time in early manhood, and April 8, 1848, en- tered Wittenberg College, where he was graduated in the spring of 1853, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later, the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him. In No- vember following the close of his college life, he came to Circleville and commenced the study of law under Judge Olds, a prominent attorney of that city. He was admitted to the Bar in Deeem- ber, 1855, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of law. During the first year he was with C. N. Olds, but upon the removal of the lat- ter gentleman to Columbus, he continued alone. In connection with office and regular practice, he combines an extensive real-estate business. 1868, in connection with another attorney, he laid out an addition, which is known as Bostwick & Lutz's Addition to the city of Circleville, and afterward platted another addition, the two con- taining ten acres. Ile still holds considerable property in the city, including the Lutz Block and two residences on the corner of Court and Union Streets, in one of which he makes his home.
In addition to his property in Circleville, Mr. Lutz owns valuable land in other places, including a farm of one hundred and sixty-seven acres in Monroe Township, Pickaway County. At one time, he owned twelve hundred acres in Missouri, six hundred acres in Iowa, and one hundred and sixty acres in Wisconsin. In 1859, he located
twenty-two hundred acres of land warrants in four counties of Kansas, Osage, Lyon, Wabaunsee and Anderson, but has sold the land from time to time. He was appointed by ex-Gov. Todd Trustee of the Asylum for Imbeciles, and held the position for about sixteen years, when he resigned.
At Springfield, Ohio, June 14, 1855, Mr. Lutz married Miss Mary II. Humphreys. Mrs. Lutz is the daughter of James, and the granddaughter of John Humphreys, the latter a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America when a boy, and in the spring of 1799 became a pioneer farmer of Spring- field. Mrs. Lutz was educated in a female semi- nary at Springfield and engaged in teaching sev- eral terms prior to her marriage. Six children completed the home cirele, four of whom grew to manhood and womanhood.
John E., the eldest, was a seaman on a revenue cutter, later a cadet for two years, after which he was commissioned Third Lieutenant. He served one year on the Atlantic Coast, three years on the Pacific Coast and Alaska, four years on Puget Sound, and then resigned from the navy and located at Port Crescent, Wash., where he now resides. Harry E., a graduate of Wittenberg Col- lege with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts, sailed for Europe immediately after graduating in 1879, and spent two years on the continent. For six months he remained at Stuttgart, where he studied German. Ile then traveled as far south as Naples and north to St. Petersburg, attended the dedication of the famous cathedral at Cologne, and afterward studicd French at Geneva. The following year he went to Alex- andria, Egypt, visited the Pyramids, then traveled to the Iloly Land, and visited the famous cities of Constantinople, Athens and Marseilles, as well as the principal points of interest in England, Scot- land and Ireland, returning home in 1881. The result of his trip to foreign lands was the publica- tion of the interesting book, "Student's Views Abroad." After his return, he studied law with his father, was admitted to the Bar, and engaged in practice until March, 1884, when he was ap- pointed Postmaster at Circleville. He resigned upon the election of President Cleveland, but was afterward re-appointed, and was editor of the
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Union Herald for four years, while he was Post- master. He is now a resident of Port Crescent, where he is a real-estate dealer, attorney-at-law and merchant. Samuel JJ., a graduate of the High School at Circleville, is engaged in the mercantile business at Port Crescent; Katharine, the only daughter, was graduated from the High School of Circleville with first honors, in June, 1891, and is an accomplished and popular young lady.
In his religious connections, Mr. Lutz is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. For many years he was President of the County Sunday-school Association and also President of the Pickaway County Bible Association. He was a delegate to the International Sunday-school Convention at Indianapolis, when the present system of inter- national lessons was adopted. In his political sympathies, he was first a Whig and later a Repub- lican, and has served his fellow-citizens in varions official capacities, where his ability and tact were used for the prosperity of the community.
G EORGE H. DARST is one of the most ener- getic, enterprising and successful farmers and stockmen in the Scioto River Valley, and is contributing his quota to the prosperity of Pickaway County, his well-tilled, well-stocked farm in Jackson Township being one of the best- managed in this section of the State. IIe is a na- tive of this place, born August 12, 1850. His father, George Darst, was born near Frederickstown Md., in 1792. The Darsts originated in Holland, and, coming to this country in Colonial times, settled in Maryland. The grandfather of our subject was a farmer and distiller, and was very wealthy, owning considerable property in Balti- more.
The early life of the father of our subject was passed on the old family homestead in Maryland in acquiring the knowledge of farming and in learning the trade of a distiller. In 1830, he came to Ohio, he then being in the prime of a vigor- ous manhood, and bought land in Somerset. In 1837, he came to Pickaway County and bought
two hundred and forty acres of the farm owned by his son of whom we write. He paid $8 an aere for it, it being mostly timber. There was a round- log house built in 1802, heated by a large open fireplace, and the floor made of puncheon. It is still standing and is an admirable relic of a pion- eer dwelling of those early times. Mr. Darst de- veloped about half of his land, making a good farm of it, and here his honorable career was ended by his death in 1855. He was a Whig in politics, and took an intelligent interest in all that concerned the welfare of the country. He married Margaret Nolan, who was born in Ross County in 1812, and our subject was their only child. She had been previously married to Irvin Jones and had two sons and a daughter by her first marriage: Irvin, John and Martha. The mother died in 1876. She was an earnest Christian, a member of the New-light Church, and she took and active part in religious matters.
Educated in the district schools, and brought up to habits of industry as a farmer's boy, at the age of twenty years our subject entered upon his independent career as a practical farmer and stock- raiser well fitted for his work. Ile possesses much natural ability, is ambitious, and has been success- ful in every sense. The old homestead became his; he completed its development, added one hundred and ten acres to it by further pur- chase, and now has a fine farm of three hundred and fifty acres, three hundred and thirty of which are under a high state of cultivation. The improvements are modern in style, and com- prise a commodious frame house erected in 1874, a large frame barn, put up in 1883, and other needed buildings. The land all lies in the Scioto River Bottoms, the soil is very rich and wonderfully productive, eighty bushels of corn and twenty-five to forty bushels of wheat being the average raised to the acre in the season of 1891. Our subject also deals largely in stock, feeding sixty head of fat cattle every year, one hundred hogs, and raising some draft horses.
In politics, Mr. Darst is a stanch advocate of the Democratic party. He is liberal-minded and public-spirited, and takes great pride in his native county, doing all in his power to advance its inter-
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.ests. Our subject was but nineteen years of age when he took unto himself a wife, December 5, 1869, in the person of Miss Margaret, daughter of William B. Caldwell. Mrs. Darst is also a native of Jack- son Township, and was born July 12, 1852. She is a fine woman, who has been of great assistance to her husband in the upbuilding of their home, and in her the Presbyterian Church finds a faith- ful member. Her marriage with our subject has brought them six children, three sons and three daughters, as follows: Mary, William; Jeanette, who married Harry Shockley, of Columbus; Harry; Josie, who is teaching school in the home district, and Chetwind.
S AMUEL PARKER. Throughout Pickaway County there is no gentleman more highly esteemed or better known than this native- born citizen of Salt Creek Township, who is operating a splendid farm of two hundred and nine acres. Combining the advantages of a fertile soil and convenient location, the value of the estate is equaled by few farms in the county, and the buildings with which it has been embellished are first-class in every respect.
An honored inmate of the pleasant home of Mr. Parker is his venerable father, Labin, who was born in Pickaway Township, this county, October 10, 1812. In spite of his advanced age, he is in robust health, and for sixty-five years has not been ill enough to be confined to his room. Possessing a mental constitution no less vigorous than his physical development, he is universally esteemed for his noble qualities and upright character. His father, Allen, who was probably born in Maryland in 1759, died in Pickaway Township in 1828, hav- ing emigrated hither with his family at a very early day.
When quite young, Labin Parker moved to Salt Creek Township, where he attended school held in a primitive log building whose furniture consisted of a few slat seats and a rude desk. The sur- rounding country was a wilderness, where deer,
bear, wolves and wild turkeys roamed at will, un- molested save by an occasional hunter. After commencing to operate as a farmer, Mr. Parker was married, in 1828, to Miss Susan Bunn and the young couple settled down to housekeeping in a small log house. Mrs. Parker, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, died in 1852, leaving three sons: Samuel, of this sketch; Thomas C., who en- listed during the Civil War and fell at Vicksburg, May 22, 1863; and George W., who spent three years as a soldier in the late war, and died in Illi- nois soon after his return from the service.
In 1854, Mr. Parker was again married, his wife being Mrs. Caroline (Hall) Black, who died Febru- ary 3, 1883. In his practical belief, Mr. Parker was an old-line Whig first and afterward a Repub- lican, joining the latter party in 1856. A devoted Christian, he was for fifty years identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church and was licensed as an exhorter, but did not devote much time to the ministry. He served as Class-leader and held other offices of trust connected with the upbuild- ing of the church.
Born in Salt Creek Township, October 8, 1839, Samuel Parker received his education in the schools of that period and passed his youth in his father's house. In 1861, he was married to Miss Rebecca Karshner, who died in 1879. He was again married, in 1881, his bride being Miss Hattie Newhouse, a native of Salt Creek Township. Her parents, Isaac and Catherine (Bear) Newhouse, were born in Ohio, where the father followed farm- ing pursuits. The mother died August 29, 1865, but the father survived until April 24, 1885.
During the late war, Mr. Parker proved his devo- tion to the Union by enlisting in its service as a member of Company K. One Hundred and Fifty- fifth Ohio Infantry, his enlistment being in the spring of 1864, for one hundred days. He was sent to Martinsburgh, and through different parts of Vir- ginia, serving as guard but not participating in any engagements. At the expiration of his term of service, he returned home and continued to en- gage in farming and stock-raising.
In his political belief, Mr. Parker is a firm adher- ent of the principles of the Prohibition party, although he formerly affiliated with the Republi-
Respectfully yours Levi Hoeve
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cans. He served as Township Trustee three years, and has occupied other official positions. In re- ligion, he and his wife are members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, of which he is Trus- tee. He condnets farming operations on an exten- sive -scale on the estate of two hundred and nine acres, of which one hundred and seventeen belong to his father. Through the exercise of industry and good judgment, Mr. Parker has attained to prosperity.
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L EVI ROWE, an old and honored resident of Washington C. II., is a member of a fam- ily that has been prominently connected with the rise and growth of Fayette County since the early years of its settlement. He is a son of a former well-known citizen of this section, Jesse Rowe, Jr., who was called "Sugar Creek Rowe," the title " Junior" being dropped when another of the name was born.
The father of our subject was a son of Jesse Rowe, Sr., who came to this State in 1809, from Albemarle County, Va., and settled on Little Creek, Ross County, thus becoming one of its early pioneers. Four years later, he came to Fay- ette County, and located five hundred acres of land here. He was an exceedingly pious man, a strong Methodist-one of the first exhorters of that denomination in this region-and together with his wife was one of the founders of the first Meth- odist Church in the county, of which they, Lucy Preddy and Rev. John King and wife were the first members. The grandfather of our subject was married to Jane P. Ferris, in Albemarle County, Va., and had a family of nine children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, viz .: Elizabeth, John, Mary, Jesse, Susan, Jane, Will- iam, Sarah, and James, who was a prominent Meth- odist minister in Alabama.
Jesse Rowe, Jr. (or Sugar Creek Jesse) was born in Albemarle County, Va., in 1783, and died in the eighty-fourth year of his age. What education he had he acquired himself, as his school privi- leges in his native State were very meagre. Ile came to Ohio with his father in 1809, and helped
him to locate in Ross County. In 1811, he returned to Virginia to claim his promised bride, Martha Sharp, of Louisa County, that State, a very hand- some young lady, who had won his affeetions be- fore he left for the West.
After his marriage, Mr. Rowe brought his young wife to Fayette County, and located on the land that his father had bought on Little Wabash Creek, in Greene Township. He remained there until 1824, when he proceeded further North and settled on another traet of land in this county, which comprised fifty aeres in a wild condition. He worked hard at clearing it the ensuing two years, and then removed to Sugar Creek and took possession of two hundred acres of land along that stream, which he developed into a fine farm, and made it his home until death claimed him at a ripe age, October 25, 1867. He was a very successful farmer, and accumulated a valuable property, in- eluding a large quantity of land, and although he broke his leg early in life and could never plow, he was a great horseback rider. He was a leader in re- ligious matters in his community, being an ar- dent Methodist, and his house was a stopping place for the old circuit-riders of his day. He was an old Jeffersonian Democrat, and took an active part in the affairs of his party. He was the father of four children: Elizabeth Ann; Mary C., who died in 1861, aged forty-five years; Levi, and Sandford, who died at the age of six years. The father and grandfather of our subjeet both had a ready wit, and always an answer for any one, and our subject tells this story in regard to his grand- father as illustrative of this trait: A family by the name of Newland, who had not a good repu- tation, lived in the neighborhood. One day Nich- olas Newland went to Mr. Rowe to get him to give a bond for $500 for him, saying to him: "Mr. Rowe, I am the very best of the Newlands." Mr. Rowe replied: "Bad is the best, Nicholas, bad is the best."
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