USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 14
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 14
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In the truest sense of the word Mr. Paulucci is self-made, as he rose from a very humble position in life to one of affluence. He is strictly temper- ate, honest and straightforward in all his deal- ings, and is very charitable to those less fortunate than himself. His marriage, in 1853, united him with Miss Margaret Julia Brown, of Belle Center, Ohio, a member of an old Virginia fam- ily. She was a inember of the Methodist Episco- pal Church and died in 1888, after having become the mother of seven children: James L .; George H .; Joseph P .; Emma Elizabeth, the wife of War- ren Filler, of Colorado; Margaret Ann; Dora May, wife of H. E. Hiestand, of Kenton; and
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William Ray. Though never willing to accept official positions, Mr. Paulucci may always be re- lied upon to support the principles of the Democ- racy, and in his political views he is stauch and loyal to the platformn of his chosen party.
ILLIAM SWAZEY AYE, a lifelong resi- dent of Marion County, and one who has been identified with its history throughout the entire period since its organization, was born here September 19, 1821. The family of which he is a member originated in Germany, and the first representative in this country was his great- grandfather, who settled in Fredericktown, Md., about 1760, and there opened a cabinet-shop. He married, but died when his only child was about six months old. The latter, our subject's grandfather, married Katharine Dutrow when he was about eighteen years old, and they reared nine children, the fifth of whom was Jacob, our subject's father.
The birth of Jacob Aye occurred in Washing- ton County, Md., February 22, 1793, and he was nine years old when the family moved to Berke- ley County, Va. As German was the language used in the home, he could not speak a word of English at the time of settling in the Old Domin- ion. For two years the family cultivated a rent- ed farm, planting seventy-five acres to grain one year. They then moved to Washington County, Pa., wliere they sojourned for two years, and from there came to Ohio, and in 1806 settled in Berk- shire, Delaware County. In the spring of that year the father and grandfather of our subject went to Berkshire and planted some corn and po- tatoes, then returned to harvest their wheat in Washington County, whence they again came to Ohio in November.
The journey to this state was one of hardship and many trials. The roads were in a terrible
condition, consisting in many places of a trail cut through the forest. The ground was soft and full of roots. Grandfather Aye brouglit five horses and a large Pennsylvania wagon, but the roads being very crooked in the woods, he could use only four of the horses in the wagon. Traveling front Granville to Berkshire, the wagon stuck in the mud, and the weather having suddenly turned cold, the family suffered greatly, and one daughter had her feet frozen.
During the first few years the family spent in Delaware County, they suffered great privations and endured many hardships, being often de- prived of what are usually considered the actual necessities of life. For salt they were sometimes obliged to pay $5 per bushel, and often were un- able to secure it even at that price. Wheat and corn were also scarce. When after arduous labor they succeeded in clearing the land and putting in a crop, the birds and wild animals that abounded in the county took the largest share of the grain. In order to protect the corn from the ravages of animals, it was made a custom, when the corn was in roasting ear, for our subject's father and his eldest brother to go through the field in the early part of the night, while the grandfather and a younger son took their places during the latter part of the night.
So meager were the educational advantages at that time that our subject's father attended school only nine months during a period of nine years. In 1812 the rifle company to which he belonged was called out and sent to Lower Sandusky (now Fremont) for the purpose of building a fort. He was there at the time of Hull's surrender, and on learning of it the troops at once beat a hasty re- treat homeward. He walked all the way back, carrying his rifle and knapsack and the sword and knapsack of his brother Jolin, who was First Lieutenant of the company, but had gone home on account of serious illness. The soldiers camped not far from Big Island, and as it had been rain- ing for many hours they had trouble in getting fire from their flint and steel, but finally suc- ceeded. With the twofold annoyance of rain and mosquitoes Mr. Aye was unable to sleep, but his comrade was undisturbed by the circumstances.
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At break of day they resumed the march, and on reaching the Little Scioto found it had overflowed its. banks. They were obliged to wade across, the water coming up to their necks. They soon reached the Radner settlement, where Mr. Aye left his knapsacks with his brother-in-law, John Foss.
On arriving in Delaware, Mr. Aye found almost all the people liad fled, fearing an attack from the Indians. Two or three miles east of the town he met his brother Henry on horseback, cau- tiously peering through the brush to see if any Indians were lurking around. The family had attempted to flee, but John was too ill to be re- moved, and they had decided to reinain, and, in the event of the worst, to dic together. Nearly every house in the neighborhood was deserted.
Soon after the war Jacob Aye was elected Cap- tain of a company that met in Berkshire, and served for five years. In 1820 he married Re- becca Hyde, a native of Lenox, Mass., who had come from there to Ohio about two years before, and had taught school the two summer seasons prior to their marriage. After their union in November, they moved into a log cabin about a mile and a-quarter northeast of Claridon, where our subject was born. In the spring of 1823 Mr. Aye sold this eighty-acre tract to Vincent Douce, and with his brother Henry bought eighty acres southeast of Caledonia Corners, near the corpora- tion. The surrounding country was heavily tim- bered, and although the population was then small, settlers arrived rapidly, many of them com- ing from England.
About 1824 the men of the neighborhood cut logs, hauled them to a suitable location south of Caledonia, and built a round log house in which to hold religious meetings. In that primitive structure our subject and his sister were baptized by James Gilruth. It was the first house built for public worship in Claridon Township. David Bennett, a cooper, and Mr. Aye made the first coffin put in the burying-ground, constructing it of a wagon-box. There was a great deal of sick- ness in those early days, chills and fevers espec- ially being prevalent.
Indians were frequent visitors at the home of
Mr. Aye. From old Tom Lyon, a Delaware In- dian, Mrs. Aye secured a butter ladle that is still in regular use in the family of our subject. On one occasion, when alone, Mrs. Aye observed sollte one pass around the house; the door latch was gently raised, the door pushed open, and a large Indian came into the room. He began to talk in broken English, and to make her under- stand drew a large butcher knife froin beneath his jacket. On seeing it she screamed, and he drew back and left. A few days later he met her . husband and explained to him that he wanted to sell hier a broom made of a hickory sapling by stripping the wood in small splints, and had at- tempted to explain to her with his knife the pro- cess of manufacture.
On anotlier occasion two Indians came to the house and bought the dog, a large and ferocious beast that Mr. Aye never set on anything unless he wanted to kill it. For this they gave $1.50 in money, a red cotton shawl and a cotton hand- kerchief. A few days afterward the dog came back with a terrible gash in his neck, the result doubtless of a conflict with wild hogs. Mrs. Aye put ointment on the wound and tied a cloth around his neck. In a few days the Indians came and took him away, and they never saw him afterward.
About 1824 John Allen erected a sawmill on the creek south of the Thew Cemetery. The neighbors volunteered their services and put in the dam, Mr. Aye working at it several days. After two years a flood took out the dam, which was never rebuilt. About the same time Nijah Rice built a mill just south of Claridon, and Com- fort Olds erected a horse-mill on the farm now owned by Harvey Coen. Previous to these im- provements Mr. Aye went to Delaware to mill.
Early in 1826 Mr. Aye and his brother Henry sold their place and each entered eighty acres in Canaan Township, now Morrow County. They followed a trail over four and one-half miles, se- lected a suitable site, hauled as many logs as pos- sible, and in a few days returned, fourteen mnen strong, finished cutting the logs, put up the house, made the clapboards and cut out a door and a fireplace, all in one day. Into that primitive
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structure the family moved about thie Ist of April. The father planted three and one-half acres to corn on the 18th of June and raised a good crop. In the spring of the following year (1827) he planted nine acres, but unfortunately the squir- rels ate more than half the corn in the roasting ear, and the family had therefore but little for themselves. They sold a cow to John Hinds, receiving corn in exchange, but they were again unfortunate in having their hogs stolen by thieves, leaving them almost entirely without meat.
During a visit to his daughter, Grandfather Hyde made a loom for her, and she took in weav- ing, which aided in supporting the family. Day after day she plied the loom early and late, the children helping her with the spooling and quilt- ing. In the harvest season Mr. Aye went out to reap, receiving a bushel of wheat a day in return for his work. About that time they had their last visit from an Indian, Peter Standingstone, as he was called, who brought with him a dozen ponies. One morning it rained so that he was unable to hunt and ne came to the house, where he enjoyed a hearty dinner. A day or two later he brought to Mrs. Aye the forequarter of a young deer.
The first school our subject attended was in the summer of 1828. The building was near the present site of Denmark, and the path to it was marked by blazed trees. He attended there about six weeks, his sister accompanying him, and the following year they went about the saine length of time. In 1829 the Mt. Vernon and Marion state road was opened through here. In January, 1831, Mr. Aye moved seven miles east of Dela- ware, where he took charge of a mill for Grand- father Hyde. On the death of his brother-in-law he bought his share from the heirs, but afterward sold the mill and moved back to the farm, in the spring of 1834.
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One object in moving to Delaware County had been to secure better school advantages for the children. On returning, they were obliged to work on the farm in the summer and walk a long distance to school in the winter. In the fall of 1837 the people of the neighborhood built a log schoolhouse on the township line of Claridon and
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Canada Townships, and in this building our sub- ject was a pupil four winter terms. In the spring of 1841 he attended a select school taught by J. J. Williams in Marion, and this was the last of his schooling. Afterward he taught eleven months, boarding himself and receiving $12 per month.
October 10, 1844, Mr. Aye married Sarah Jane Mitchell, and they became the parents of eight children, of whom four are deceased. The others have married and are prosperous and highly re- spected citizens of the community in which they live. Upon the same farin Mr. Aye and his faithful wife lived and labored until April, 1894, and then came to Marion, where they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. They have lived to witness many wonderful changes throughout Ma- rion County. A vast extent of prairie grass, va- ried with flowers of every hue, and the almost unbroken forest have been changed to fruitful fields dotted over with cozy farm houses. The for- est, with all its primitive grandeur, lives only in the memory of a few pioneers. Marion, from a hamlet of one store and a few houses, has grown to the importance of a city, with all modern imn- provements and the home of cultured, prosperous and wealthy people.
ILLIAM STUCK. Prominent among the capable and efficient agriculturists of Har- din County stands Mr. Stuck, who follows farming pursuits on section 17, Roundhead Town- ship. He was born in Crawford County, this state, near Bucyrus, October 17, 1840, and is the son of William and Lydia ( Kester ) Stuck, natives of Pennsylvania, whence they came to the Buck- eye State in 1833, locating at once in Whitestone Township, Crawford County, with whose inter- ests they became prominently identified in the years which followed. The father was a black- smith by trade, and on first coming here worked at this business at Bucyrus, or until his land be- gan to yield him an income.
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Our subject had six brothers and sisters, two of whom are now deceased. Julia Ann married Samuel Slagle, and lived in Ft. Wayne, Ind., where her husband was engineer on the railroad, until meeting with an accident which resulted in his death; his wife died in 1892. Margaret mar- ried David Bair, and they occupied a good farm near Bucyrus until her death, in March, 1894. Franklin M. took to wife Julia Kramer, and they live in this locality on property of their own. Samuel married Caroline Andrews, and is an ag- riculturist in South Dakota. Eliza is now Mrs. George Bair, and lives near Bucyrus, where her husband was a farmer and well-digger; he died by accident in 1880. Solomon married Hannah Snyder, and is residing near Ft. Wayne, Ind.
The original of this sketch was united in mar- riage, December 8, 1864, with Miss Margaret Scott, who was born in December, 1840, in Knox County, near Mt. Vernon, and is the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Scott, natives of Virginia. The children born of their union are nine in num- ber. Clarence married Floe McGraff, and is en- gaged in teaching school at Silver Creek; Edward married Eunice Dunlap and is engaged in farming in this locality. The others are all at home, and are named, respectively, Mellie, Harry, Clara, William, Thomas and Carol. The one who is de- ceased passed away in infancy.
Our subject had just attained his majority the year in which the Civil War broke out, and Oc- tober 31 of that year he enlisted as a member of Company K, Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry, being mustered into service at Mansfield. His regi- ment was at once sent to Louisville, Ky., by train and boat, and the first battle in which it partici- pated was fought at Shiloh. This was followed by the engagements at Corinth, Iuka, Stevenson, Ala., and others of importance. The Sixty-fourth was later ordered back to Louisville, and on the way occurred many skirmishes. Mr. Stuck was taken prisoner near Nashville, Tenn., and when released was discharged and returned to Bucyrus, where he made his home for several years. In 1877 he came to Hardin County, locating at once in Roundhead Township, which section has been the scene of his operations ever since. He has
always given his attention to mixed husbandry, and has on his place several head of good stock, including horses, cattle and hogs.
Mr. Stuck, who is a stanch Democrat in politics, was elected President of the Township Board of Trustees by his party, and has also filled the of- fices of Supervisor and School Director. He is public-spirited and takes a deep interest in the welfare and improvement of his home locality, being foremost in every enterprise which will in any way benefit the community in which he lives.
ILLIAM WYLIE is one of the old citizens of Big Island Township, Marion County, his home being on section 11. He is a na- tive of County Antrim, Ireland, born August 15, 1822, and crossed the Atlantic with his parents, Matthew and Nancy (Orr) Wylie, in 1830. Set- tling in Montreal, Canada, he worked on a farm by the month until he had saved a sum sufficient to purchase a place of his own. Later going to Michigan, he invested in land and lived there for some time, when he became a resident of the Buck- eye State. His father is now living in Dakota, at the extreme old age of ninety-three years.
Our subject is the only survivor of five chil- dren, the others being named Rachel, John, Ed- ward and Matthew, Jr. In 1844 he married Fannie, daughter of Artemus and Ann (Cook) Cushman, natives of Canada and Massachusetts, respectively, and descendants of "Mayflower" pilgrims. Mrs. Fannie Wylie was the fifth of thirteen children. She was born in 1823, and died November 2, 1883, after becoming the mother of nine children. Violet married R. W. Messenger (son of Colonel Messenger), and lives in Kansas; William and Matthew are deceased; Lura is the wife of N. J. Messenger, another son of the Colonel; Ann married A. W. Messenger, of this county; Devilla is deceased; Edward D. is further referred to at the end of this article;
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John is deceased; George B. was born October 22, 1864, and September 4, 1889, inarried Bertha, daughter of John and Rachel Sappington, the former a fariner of this township. Their eldest son, John C., is still with them, while their other son, Charlie, is deceased. Mrs. Bertha Wylie was born in June, IS70, and by her marriage has become the mother of one child, Orla S., boril September 17, 1894. George Wylie is a Demo- crat and served as Township Clerk for four years. In religion he is a Presbyterian.
Edward Wylie was born August 23, 1859, and now manages the homestead, being a thrifty and practical agriculturist. November 24, 1887, he married Mary Osborn, whose birtli occurred May 18, 1866. She is one of the eight living chil- dren born to John and Hannah (Lewis) Osborn, natives of Ohio, the others being: Samuel; Mrs. Margaret Thomson, Elson, William, Eva, Annie and Lydia. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wylie is graced by two bright sons: Harry, born November 21, 1888; and Johnnie, October 5, 1890.
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HARLES S. TIDD, one of the sterling old farmers of Hardin County, owns a good es- tate in Roundhead Township, which he has developed and cultivated to a high degree. One of those hardy pioneers who prepared a highway for civilization, he has front liis early arrival in this region been active in the upbuilding and prosperity of the county.
Mr. Tidd was born in Logan County, this state, near Bellefontaine, February 6, 1821. His parents were Samuel and Rebecca (Hill) Tidd, natives of Pennsylvania, wlience they came to this state in an early day in its history. The father was a fifer in the War of 1812. After com- ing to Ohio lie worked at his trade, that of a blacksmith, until coming to Roundliead Town- ship, in 1822. In February of that year he lo-
cated on section 16, and, purchasing a quarter- section of wild land, gave the greater part of his attention to its cultivation, although when ready money was needed, he worked at his trade until his land began to yield good returns. Although the Indians were numerous in the locality, they never proved troublesome, as Mr. Tidd knew just how to manage and humor them. Being the only blacksmith there for many years, he was called upon to repair vehicles and tools of every de- scription, and often made bells, knives and even tomahawks for the settlers. A Democrat in poli- tics, he was at various times called .upon to rep- resent his fellow pioneers in positions of trust. He was a well informed man on all subjects of importance relating to his occupation and trade, but this knowledge was not gleaned in tlie school- room, as his attendance there was of very short duration.
The brothers and sisters of our subject werc eiglit in number, and bore the respective names of Betsey, Polly, Sallie, Hugh H., Martin, Nancy, Peggy and Jane. Of this large family Charles is the only survivor. February 16, 1843, he was married, in Roundhead Township, to Mar- garet A. McKennon, the daughter of Uriah and Nancy (Inskepp) McKennon, natives of Ken- tucky and Virginia, respectively. On coming to this state the parents of Mrs. Tidd located in Clark County, and engaged in farming through- out life. They had a family of seven children, four of whom are now living. Mr. McKennon was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a man of influence in his community.
To Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Tidd were born nine children. Urialı Holmes was born December 26, 1843, and during the late war served as a inen- ber of Company B, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, for a period of three years; he is now deceased. John Halsey was born November 8, 1845, and died June 31, 1846. Martin Girard, who was born October 17, 1847, married Eliza Machan, and is now farming in this locality. Maria Adeline was born February 27, 1850, and died March 7, 1867. Calvin Hill was born Feb- ruary 4, 1853, and died August II of the fol- lowing year. George Lester, who was born De-
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cember 14, 1855, married Jennie Zimmerman and now lives near Belle Center, thiis state. Olive Ann was born August 26, 1858, and died Decem- ber 11, 1863. Emeline D. was born January 2, 1862, and is the wife of Levi Stinson, of Round- head Township. Charles Wesley was born Oc- tober 18, 1865, and lives at home.
In1 1867 the original of this sketch took charge of the home farm, as his father was very feeble and uitable to look after its operation. It is due to him that a large portion of the land was cleared, and in carrying on this work cattle were used in- stead of horses. In order to procure bread stuff for the family a journey of ten miles was made to the nearest mill.
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Mr. Tidd may be justly termed self-made, for it is owing to his private reading and study, to- gether with his experience of the world, that he has won his large fund of information and prac- tical knowledge. He has on his farm large num- bers of horses, cattle and sheep, and gives his at- tention entirely to looking after the interests of his estate. Mrs. Tidd is a member of the Protes- tant Methodist Church. In politics Mr. Tidd never fails to cast a ballot in favor of Democratic candidates.
ILLIAM K. KENNEDY is one of the worthy old settlers of Tully Township, Marion County, and has owned and man- aged the farm where his present home is lo- cated for fifty-one years. Among his friends and neighbors he is considered an authority on matters pertaining not only to agriculture, but also to questions of politics and general moment. He cast his first Presidential ballot for Martin Van Buren, and has always adhered to the Dem- ocracy. From time to time he has been called upon to serve in public offices, among which have been Constable, Trustee and Supervisor of the township. He is an extensive land-owner, hav-
ing three hundred and seventy-five acres in his home farm, and liis possessions altogether amount to some eight hundred and twenty acres. This shows what may be achieved by a young 111an who possesses energy and ambition, for he began his active life without a dollar, his only capital being a good constitution and a strong deter- mination.
A native of Mifflin County, Pa., our subject was born near the village of Waterloo, February 16, 1818. His father, Thomas Kennedy, likewise a native of the Keystone State, was of Irish descent, and his mother was in her girlhood a Miss Nancy Kerr. She became the mother of five sons and five daughters, of whom Williamn was the first- born. He was born and reared on a farm in his 11ative state, and made the journey to Ohio with his parents in 1832, by team. The faniily lo- cated near Bucyrus, Crawford County, and it was in that locality that our subject first gained an independent living. For seven years he worked for farmers by the month, receiving from $10 to $12 for his services.
In 1844 William Kennedy removed to this county, and bought eighty acres of land on sec- tion 17. A part of this had been improved, and a log cabin stood on the place. At the end of three years the owner purchased another farm. adjoining, and here he has continued to live ever since. He was married, May 28, 1844, to Mar- garet, daughter of Jacob and Lydia Shank. She bore him nine children, and was yet in the prime of life when she was summoned by death, May 28, 1860. ' The eldest child, Lydia J., married Samuel Baker, a farmer of Crawford County; Thomas S., a stock dealer and farmer, also lives in Crawford County; Martha, who became the wife of George Watts, a farmer, died when thirty-seven years of age; William J. is a resi- dent of Big Island Township, this county; Emma married Madison Roberts, a farmer of Big Island Township; Anzilla is the wife of George Watts, of Polk Township; Ella, whose home is in this township, is Mrs. John Hill; and two children died in infancy.
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