USA > Ohio > Hardin County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 41
USA > Ohio > Marion County > Portrait and biographical record of Marion and Hardin counties, Ohio > Part 41
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William Taylor was born in Virginia, but was
taken to Ross County, this state, by his parents when an infant of two weeks. He remained at home until attaining his majority, when he came to Marion County and entered land in Salt Roek Township. He made many valuable improve- ments on the land, and lived upon it until his de- cease, which occurred at the age of fifty-eight years. He was one of the pioneers of this sec- tion, and was honored and respeeted for his up- right and honorable life. After the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks and was thereafter interested in its success. He held about all of the township offices, and in an early day was elected Land Appraiser of Marion Coun- ty. He was not a member of any church organ- ization, but in his every-day life practiced the pre- eepts of the Golden Rule. On his death he left to his family a large and valuable estate, whiel he aceumulated entirely through his own efforts. His parents were born in England, and on mak- ing the journey to America located in Virginia.
Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor came to this county with her parents when quite young. Her father, Elisha Davis, was therefore one of the old settlers of Marion County, and was a solid business man,. respected and admired by his friends and ac- quaintances. Mrs. Taylor died at the age of forty-two years.
Amos, of this sketch, received a common-sehool education, and upon reaching his majority began for himself by renting a farm, which he carried on for four years. He then formed a partner- ship with his father-in-law, and for another four years was engaged in farming and dealing in stoek. 'At the expiration of that time he pur- ehased a farm in Wyandot County, just a quarter of a mile north of his present farm, and contain- ing about two hundred acres. Later, however, he took possession of his present estate, of which he has been the owner since 1859.
Mr. Taylor was married in Marion County to Miss Sarah N. Martin, daughter of Robert Mar- tin, who had the distinction of being one of the earliest settlers of Marion County. To them has been born a family of seven children, namely: Louisa, residing at home and engaged in teach- ing school in the vicinity; Elizabeth, the wife of
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James L. Bender, a farmer in this township; Cora, also teaching school in the home district; Kate, the wife of Ozias Washburn, a prosperous farmer of this township, whose sketch the reader may find on another page of this book; Ann, at home with her parents; Hortense, who died at the age of eight years; and Harpster, the youngest, at home and assisting in carrying on the farm.
In his political views Mr. Taylor is a stanch Republican. He has been Township Trustee, Supervisor and School Director for many years. Like his father before him, he is not connected with any church. He has ever borne his part in the npbuilding and developing of the county's best interests, and is a prominent and influential citizen, highly respected throughout the commu- nity, where he has a large circle of friends and . acquaintances.
OMER P. STEVENSON, of Taylor Creek Township, Hardin County, is a typical old pioneer. In June, 1842, he bought eighty acres of the farm where he is now living, the fol- lowing fall put up a log-cabin 16x18 feet in di- mensions, with one window and two doors, and in the following spring moved into this humble abode, which was his home until 1862. The land was covered with timber, and as he had no teams he labored uinder a great disadvantage. For sev- eral years he had to work very hard, and in order to obtain a small horse he had to make six thou- sand rails. Once when he had a payment of $20 to make on his land, money being very scarce, he obtained the necessary amount by killing four- teen deer in nine days, and all but five of these he shot in a three-days hunt. Later he bought forty acres of additional land, and subsequently thirty acres more, his place now comprising one hundred and forty-five acres of desirable land. Ile has lived retired since 1876, since which time his son has managed the farm.
The birth of our subject occurred in Greene County, Ohio, near Springfield, May 31, 1816.
His parents, William and Margaret (Hillis) Ste- venson, natives of Virginia, came to Ohio in 1800. Settling in Greene County, they bought one hun- dred acres of wild land, put up a log cabin, and started to clear away the timber. The father died on this place December 20, 1826, and his wife followed him to the silent land in 1848. They were both faithful members of the Pres- byterian Church. For several years William Stevenson served as Township Assessor and as Justice of the Peace. Of his five children, our subject is now the only survivor. The others were: Rachel, Mrs. Turner Whitcomb; David, who married Nancy Brown; James; and Preston, who wedded Sarah Scott.
When he was but ten years of age the father of H. P. Stevenson died, and he continued to live with his mother for seven years, working at va- rious occupations in the mean time. When he was twenty-four years of age his brother employed him in a sawmill on Silver Creek, and in this ca- pacity he remained some six years. He then managed the farm of Mrs. Bailey, a widow, for two years, and later invested his earnings in a place of his own, this property being the farm on which he has since dwelt. He is now the oldest settler in Taylor Creek Township, and is known far and near. He started out as a poor boy and achieved success, of which he may well be proud, and although he received but little schooling, is mainly self-educated. His first vote was cast for General Harrison, and since the formation of the Republican party he has been one of its stalwart adherents. Few men can boast of serving in the capacity of Justice of the Peace for a period of forty years, but such is true of our subject, as he was elected in April, 1852, and served until 1892. In 1846 lie was made Township Assessor, being the first one elected to that office, in which ca- pacity he served for three terms, and he has also been Trustee for one year. He helped to organ- ize the schools, was a Director for several years, and did his share toward laying out the roads, making bridges, etc.
November 26, 1840, in this township, was ce !- ebrated the marriage of Mr. Stevenson and Mary An, daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Hill) Hol-
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linger. The latter were natives of Virginia, and early settlers of Ohio. Mrs. Stevenson is the only survivor of six children, and was born May 25, 1822, in Champaign County, Ohio. By her mar- riage she became the mother of nine children. Bartley E., born January. 4, 1842, was killed in the battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864, while a member of Company D, Thirty-fourth Ohio Regiment. Lewis M., born July 24, 1844, married Caroline Ranney, by whom he had nine children, four of whom are yet living, and makes his home near Bellefontaine. Rachel, born No- vember 11, 1846, married Leander King, of Ken- ton, and has four children. Preston W., born September 6, 1849, died at the age of two years. Lizzie, Mrs. A. S. Ranney, of Kenton, was born August 9, 1852. Perry, whose birth occurred May 26, 1855, married Amy Hinkle, who died November 21, 1892. David, born January 25, 1858, married Sarah Baily, by whom he has two children, and is now a resident of this township. James B., who died at the age of four years, was born January 11, 1861; and Maggie, the young- est, and the wife of Otis Hopkins, of this town- ship, was born April 11, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson hold membership in the Presbyterian Church.
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ILLARD C. EMERY, M. D. A position of prominence in the medical fraternity of Kenton is held by the subject of this notice, who began in the practice of his profession in this eity during the spring of 1884, and has since had a large and remunerative patronage. He is a follower of the homeopathic school, and his ability and success have done much toward gain- ing popularity for that system among the people of this locality. In the diagnosis of intricate and complicated cases he displays an accuracy and skill that prove his thorough knowledge of the profession in its every department.
The Emery family originated in Germany, but has been represented in America for many years,
and three generations have been residents of Ohio. Peter H. Emery, the father of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Ohio early in the '4os, and with his brother started the first carriage factory in Bellefontaine. His death occurred in that city in 1865. The lady whom he married, Mary Ann Anderson, was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and her father, Matthew Anderson, was one of the pioneers of Logan County, his home being on a farm near West Liberty. During the last twenty years of his life he was totally blind. One of his sons was a member of the Wisconsin State Legislature and State Senate, and now makes his home in that state. Mrs. Mary A. Emery survives her hus- band, and now resides in Bellefontaine.
At the time of the death of. Peter H. Emery, his wife was left with four small children depend- ent upon her. Of these the eldest, W. C., was born in Bellefontaine, Logan County, Olio, April 16, 1856. His three sisters are Jennie, who re- sides with her mother at Bellefontaine; Sallie, wife of E. W. Patterson, a well-to-do stockman of Bellefontaine; and Mamie, wife of Dr. Frank Griffin, a dentist of Bellefontaine. The subject of this sketch received his literary education in the common and high schools of his native city, and in 1876, when twenty years old, commenced to read medicine with Dr. J. H. Wilson, of Belle- fontaine. Later he attended lectures at the Pulte Medical College of Cincinnati, from which institution he was graduated in the spring of 1879.
Forming a partnership with his former precep- tor, Dr. Emery remained in Bellefontaine until 1884, when, as above stated, he came to Kenton. He was united in marriage, in 1884, with Miss Emma May Kerr, the daughter of an extensive and successful commission merchant of Buffalo, N. Y. Unto their union there have been born two sons and two daughters, named as follows: Hazel, Marguerite, Horace Clayton and Willard Sprague. The religious connections of Dr. and Mrs. Emery are with the Presbyterian Church, in the welfare of which he takes a deep interest. In political affairs he advocates the principles of the Republican party, and is well informed con-
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cerning matters pertaining to local and national prosperity. His residence, an attractive house recently erected, is situated on North Detroit Street, and is one of the mnost cosey and pleasant homes in the city.
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HOMAS ESPY, President of the Kenton Milling Company and President of the Ken- ton Gas and Electric Company, was born in Beaver County, Pa., May 12, 1837. He is the son of John Espy, a native of the same county, born in 1812. The original progenitors of the family in America were two brothers who came hither from the North of Ireland in Colonial times, one settling east of the Alleghany Moun- tains, near Philadelphia, and the other making his home on the west side of the mountains.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Beaver County and there engaged in farm pursuits. He had a large family of children, among whom were two sons, John and Thomas. The latter went to North Carolina, married, and became a prominent minister in the Presbyterian Church. The two brothers were separated, and nothing was heard of Thomas for many years. About the time of the outbreak of the Rebellion, our subject went to North Carolina to learn if any trace could be found of his uncle. He dis- covered that he was dead, and that his only child, Harriet Newell, was the wife of United States Senator Vance. In this way the cousins became known to each other, and Senator Vance and his wife visited the family at Kenton on several dif- ferent occasions. Mrs. Vance died in North Car- olina in 1877.
The father of our subject, who was a miller by trade, came to Hardin County, Ohio, in 1838, when Thomas was a child one year old. Settling on a farm, he remained there for two years, but in 1840 located in Kenton, where, in 1845, he built
the first steam flouring mill in Hardin County, on the present site of the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad Depot. During the remainder of his life he was engaged in milling and farming in Ken- ton, and through his industrious efforts and ex- cellent management became the possessor of a fortune. He passed away in 1878, in the faith of the Universalist Church, to which he had be- longed for some years.
The maternal ancestors of our subject were of Scotch origin. His mother, Jane Anderson, was born in Beaver County, Pa., and makes her home with her only child, our subject. Though ser- enty-six years of age, she retains her mental fac- ulties and physical strength, being as keen of in- tellect as many twenty years her junior. The subject of this sketch received his primary educa- tion in the schools of Kenton, after which he spent two years in a college at Northwood, Logan County. In 1856 he attended a commercial col- lege in Cincinnati, and in 1861 entered the Cin- cinnati Law School. The following year he was admitted to the Bar, but never engaged in the active practice of his profession, preferring to take up a business life. In 1864 he became associated with his father in the milling business, in which he has since engaged.
In company with William Ochs, in 1866, Mr. Espy erected the mill now owned by the Ken- ton Milling Company, of which he is President. When a mere lad of eleven years, he commenced to keep his father's books, and during his school life attended to this branch of the business. In 1855 he became Deputy County Treasurer, and occupied that position for four years. For some time prior to 1874 he was interested in a private bank which was owned by Joseph Paulucci and others, and for two years afterward held the posi- tion of cashier with the Hardin Savings Bank, in which the former institution had been merged. At the organization of the First National Bank in IS78 he became one of the Directors.
Believing that increased transportation facilities would rapidly enhance the prosperity of Kenton, Mr. Espy in 1868 became connected with a pro- jected railroad to run from Pittsburg, via Kenton and Huntington, Ind., to Chicago. In 1881 the
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road was completed and was called the Chicago & Atlantic. Mr. Espy was one of the first Direct- ors, and so continued until the line was sold to the Erie system. In the mean time, in connection with the late General Robinson, he built the con- nection, twenty-six iniles, between Kenton and Marion. In 1886 he assisted in the organization of the Scioto Natural Gas Company, of which he was elected President. This enterprise has been extended from time to time, penetrating the Han- cock County fields, until now it has thirty miles of main pipe. In I891 this was connected and con- solidated with the Kenton Gas and Electric Con- pany.
Mr. Espy was one of the first Board of Direc- tors of the County Infirmary, and for twenty years was Treasurer of Buck Township. While serving as one of the first pike commissioners, he assisted in building the first pike in Hardin County. Altogether he has been one of the most active business men of this county. Socially he has been a Mason since 1858, In politics he has always adhered to Democratic principles.
The marriage of Mr. Espy, in 1870, united him with Miss Sallie Johnson, of Madison Coun- ty, Ohio, who prior to her union with our subject was a teacher in the Kenton schools. They are the parents of three living children, two sons and a daughter. The latter, Anna by name, is being educated in Auburndale Seminary, near Boston, Mass. The sons, Frank and Jesse, are students in the union school of Kenton.
OHN MORGAN JONES, who resides on section 10, Blanchard Township, Hardin County, was born in Knox County, Ohio. November 6, 1832. He is a son of Jolin and Sa- ralı (Bradbury) Jones, the former a native of New Jersey, who removed thence to Pennsylvania, but soon afterward came to Ohio and settled in Knox County. In 1853 he came to Hardin County, locating in Washington Township, where he died
in 1867, aged sixty-seven years. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania, was about three years his senior, and survived him a number of years, dying in 1873, at the age of seventy-six. He was prospered in his undertakings, and accumulated two hundred acres of valuable land in 'Washing- ton Township.
The parental family consisted of six sons and two daughters, and Jolin was the next to the youngest of the number. He remained with his parents .until twenty-three years of age, though for some time previous lie had engaged in teach- ing school. His first term was in Hardin Coun- ty, being the Beech Grove School in Pleasant Township, where he was paid $12 per month and "boarded round." His three elder brothers had settled in Washington Township, where An- drew and Christopher still reside. Abner B., who was captured by the rebels during the late war, was confined in one of their prisons, and became ter- ribly emaciated as a result of his sufferings. Shortly after his release he died in the hospital at Annapolis, Md.
In 1852 Mr. Jones taught a three-monthis terin of school in Knox County, and at its close re- moved to Hardin County, whither his parents had preceded him a few months. He secured the farm that his brother had originally settled, but a few years later traded the place for land in Iowa, and bought the southwest part of Blanchard Township in 1867. Upon an eighty-acre tract there he lived for thirteen years, and thence came to his present farm in the northeast part of the same township in 18So. This tract of one hun- dred and eighty acres was originally known as the Capt. Cyrus Herrick Farm, much of his life having been spent thereon. He erected the two- story residence that adorns the place, and which is a brick structure, containing twelve rooms and built at a cost of $5,000.
July 1, 1855, Mr. Jones married Miss Eliza- betli Merinda Gillen, a native of New Jersey, but at that time a resident of Washington Township. Their family consisted of the following children: Sarah Caroline, who died when in her eighteenth year; Bentou K., a physician of Kenton; Eddie E., a dealer in hay and grain at Kenton; Ella
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SAMUEL H. CAROTHERS.
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(twin of the former), wife of Dr. W. D. Barnhill, of Findlay, Ohio; Christopher F., an invalid; Adelbert M. and Odel Ulysses (twins) ; and John Morgan, a student in the Normal School at Ada. All have received excellent educational advan- tages, and are well informed and refined. Polit- ically Mr. Jones is a Republican. For a long period he has been a Methodist, and his men- bership is in the Harris Chapel, in Blanchard Township, of which he is a Trustee.
AMUEL H. CAROTHERS, a retired farmer residing on section 16, Pleasant Township, Hardin County, was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., February 8, 1819. He is the son of Jamies Carothers, who was born in 1770, in the Highlands of Scotland, not far from Glasgow, and was brought to America the following year by his father, Jaines, Sr. The family landed in Phila- delphia, which at that time was a small fort. They located in Dauphin County, not far from the City of Brotherly Love, and there the wife and mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Maloy, died about 1779. Afterward James, Sr., married again. He was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, in which he served five and one-half years, being a member of Washington's body- guard during part of that time. In physique he was well built, powerful, muscular and brawny, and was tall of stature, being six feet and four inches in height. For seven years he served as frontier guard, during which time he killed a large number of Indians. He had taken an oath to avenge the massacre of his brother's family by the redmen, and never lost an opportunity of slaying one of the savages. An unerring shot, lie was fond of the sport of hunting, and kept the family larder supplied with game.
While he devoted some attention to the gun-
sinith's trade, Grandfather Carothers was never a hard worker, preferring to spend his time in hunting, fishing, etc., rather than in manual la- bor. His land was cleared mainly by hired help. Among his hands was an Irishman, who, on emi- grating to America, had bound himself to the vessel-owner to work four years for the one to whom his time was sold. Mr. Carothers paid sixteen pounds for the four years' service, and thus secured the man. It proved a very profit- able investment, for the Irishman was industrious, and cleared the tract of two hundred acres given Mr. Carotliers for his service in the Revolution- ary War. The latter attained the venerable age of ninety-four, and died near Shirleysburg, Hunt- ingdon County, about 1824.
At the time the family moved to Huntingdon County, Pa., James Carothers, Jr., was about eighteen years old. Following the patriotic ex- ample set by his father, he enlisted during the War of 1812, and rendered brave service in be- half of our country. In Huntingdon County he met and married Polly Fitzsimmons, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1782, and was the youngest of three daughters who accompanied their parents, Patrick and Nancy Fitzsimmons, to America, the emigration of the family occur- ring about the time of the close of the Revolu- tion.
The marriage of James Carothers, Jr., and Polly Fitzsimmons occurred in 1800, and they be- gan housekeeping in Huntingdon County, where they continued to reside until death. The mothier died before our subject came to Ohio, the father afterward. Both are buried in the cemetery near Shirleysburg. Samuel H. had very few educa- tional advantages in youth. In summer he was too busy on the farm to attend school, while in the winter the snow was so deep as to render walking almost impossible. His entire schooling did not exceed three months. His mother taught him to read in the Bible, and his wife taught him to write after he was married.
For a few months after his majority, our sub- ject continued to give his time to his father, then worked for wages by the day. For two years he was employed as a teamster, receiving $11 per
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month. He was economical and saved his earn- ings, having about $88 when he was ready to come to Ohio. With $22 he purchased two horses, one of which was blind. For $2 he bought a wagon, but was obliged to expend $8 in its repair. With this outfit and about $50 in cash he started out. His cash capital, however, was soon reduced by tolls and other expenses to $16.10, with which amount he arrived in Greene County, Ohio.
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In his new home. Mr. Carothers had many hardships to endure, and his expenses were heavy in proportion to the comforts enjoyed. For the first flour that he purchased he paid fifty-one cents per pound. His first work was in exchange for four bushels of corn per day, but as corn only brought a shilling a bushel, the returns of his la- bor were meager. He rented an old two-roomed house, for the rental of which he gave two days work a month. The shop of his Quaker land- lord he used to make a small table and two stools, but did not have a chair in his house for more than a year after he moved into it. For a time he worked by the day for his brother, but after harvest leased one hundred and sixty acres, forty of which were cleared. There was a cabin on the farin, but the condition of the place was so dilapidated that its reputation throughout the neighborhood was unenviable. However, being young, strong and energetic, he succeeded in1 bringing about a great transformation in the place, where he remained for three years. The remainder of his lease he sold for $60.
The elder brother of our subject, who was a blacksmith, made him a broad-wheeled wagon and went .bail for him for three horses. With this assistance, he commenced teaming in the fall of 1842. In October he was in debt $240, but by April I had liquidated the indebtedness, in addi. tion to which he had spent $50 in his house and had $too to loan out. He frequently hauled corn, whiskey, pork, lard, etc., to Cincinnati, re- turning with coal. In this way he made about $30 a week. In the fall of 1846 he started for Hardin County with three wagon-loads of furni- ture and $500 in money. His first purchase here consisted of eighty acres in Pleasant Town-
ship, for which he paid $800. Making his home there, he continued teaming for four and one-half years.
In the spring of 1851 Mr. Carothers bought one hundred and sixty acres where he now re- sides. A year later he moved here, and this has since been his home. Some of his land he has sold, but still retains the ownership of one hun- dred and forty-five acres, in addition to which he has two eighty-acre tracts elsewhere. June 24, 1840, he- married Nancy E. Gilmore, who was born in Cumberland County, Pa., January 25, 1819, and died October 12, 1861. They became the parents of nine children, three of whom died in infancy unnamed, and the second, Alsetta, when a few weeks old. Gilmore, who was born April 21, 1844, lives near Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind .; Lydia is deceased; Florence Jane, who was born January 14, 1851, is the wife of F. M. Crawford, and resides near Kenton; Sarah Belle, who was born in 1856, is the wife of Isaac Draper, who is engaged in the livery business at Kenton; and William Henderson, whose birth oc- curred October 11, 1861, resides on a portion of the old homestead. Mrs. Nancy E. Carothers was a daughter of Mitchell and Lydia (Johnson) Gilmore, of Cumberland County, Pa.
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