USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
On July 24, 1853, Mr. Sapp was united in marriage to Miss Delia A. White, also a native of Knox county, born September 27, 1832, and a daughter of Anthony and Keziah (Wade) White, early pioneers of this portion of the Buckeye state. Seven children have been born unto this union, namely : Flora, the wife of John P. Breck- ler, a prominent farmer of Howard town-
115
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
ship; Mary Keziah, wife of M. P. Ham- mond, also a farmer of Howard township; Ella, the wife of Patrick Percel, of Mount Vernon; Julian, who married Cassie Wig- gins and makes his home in Howard town- ship; Jennie, wife of P. J. Matingly, of Licking county, Ohio; Lucy, wife of B. R. Parker, of Cleveland; and Bertha, who lives with her uncle, Dr. L. W. Sapp, of Cleve- land. The family were all born on the farm on which Mr. Sapp also opened his eyes to the light of day, and they are all members of St. Luke's Catholic church at Danville, Mr. Sapp having assisted largely in the erection of the house of worship. His genial manner makes him popular in all cir- cles, and his friends in the community are almost as many as his acquaintances.
LYMAN W. BLACK.
Lyman Wright Black, a veteran of the Civil war and a well-known farmer of Union township, residing on section 24, has spent his entire life in Knox county, his birth hav- ing occurred in Union township October 2, 1835. The family is of German descent, and was founded in America at an early day. The grandfather of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, where also occurred the birth of Andrew Black, the father of Ly -- man, who was reared and educated in the Keystone state, whence he emigrated to Knox county at an early period in the de- velopment of this part of the state. Here he located upon a farm, which he conducted throughout his remaining days. His polit- ical support was given the Whig party until its dissolution, when he joined the ranks of
the new Republican party, continuing one of its warm advocates throughout his re- maining days. For many years he served as justice of the peace and his decisions. were distinguished by marked equity and freedom from personal bias. He held mem- bership in the Methodist church, and was active in its work. His death occurred when he had reached the age of seventy-five years. Before leaving Pennsylvania he mar- ried Sarah A. Huff, who spent her girl- hood days in that state, where she was born, She too, was of German lineage, and her death occurred when she was about sixty years of age ..
Lyman Wright Black was the fifth child and second son in a family of six sons and two daughters born unto his parents. He- acquired his education in the district schools and in his youth worked in the fields through the summer months. When the country be- came involved in Civil war he offered his services to the government and enlisted in Company B, Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1862. For three years he was numbered among the defenders of the Union, and participated in the battles of Arkansas Post and Vicksburg, together with many lesser engagements. For a time he was in the hospital at Vicksburg and was then sent to St. Louis. He received an honorable dis- charge in Indianapolis, Indiana, after three years' service, and at once returned to his home in Union township, where he has since been engaged in farming. He is to-day the owner of one hundred and twenty-five acres. of good land, all of which is under cultiva- tion, and in the line of general farming he is meeting with good success.
Mr. Black has been twice married. In 1869 he wedded Fanny Straight, and after
116
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
her death he married Mrs. Anna Moore, the widow of William Moore. She was born in Liberty township, Knox county, and is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Houck) Woodruff. Mr. Black belongs to Leroy Baker Post, G. A. R., and for seventeen years has been identified with Danville Lodge, F. & A. M. He has lived a quiet life, devoted to agriculture, but at all times has commanded the confidence and trust of his fellow men, and his circle of friends has been extended as the number of his acquaint- ances has increased.
JOHN J. BLUBAUGH.
For more than seventy years John J. Blubaugh has been a resident of Knox coun- ty and has therefore witnessed the greater part of its growth and development. He has seen its wild lands transformed into beautiful homes and farms, while commer- cial and industrial enterprises have been es- tablished, contributing to the growth of vil- lage and city, and churches and schools have been built indicating the intellectual and moral status of the community. In all the work of progress Mr. Blubaugh has borne his part and is justly accounted one of the honored pioneers of the community, to whom the county owes a debt of gratitude for what he accomplished in opening up this region to civilization.
Our subject was born near Cumberland, Maryland, January 10, 1828, and is of Ger- man descent, his grandfather having come from Germany to America and thus founded the family in the new world. Benjamin Blubaugh, the father of our subject, was
born, reared and married in Maryland, wed- ding Onora Logsdon, and in 1828 he came with his family to Knox county, locating in Brown township, upon the farm now owned by John Coleman. He built a log cabin, made various other improvements, and after a number of years sold the farm to Samuel Durbin. Unto Benjamin and Onora Blubaugh were born six children, of whom John J. was the youngest and the only son. He was but seven months old when his mother died, she having lived but a few weeks after reaching this county, after which the father married Eliza Durbin, by whom he had seven children, five of whom are still living. In his political views Ben- jamin Blubaugh was a Whig and afterward a Democrat, and in his community was called to serve in several local offices. He held membership in St. Luke's Catholic church at Danville, and died in that faith when about eighty-eight years of age, his last days being spent in the home of our subject. He was a stone mason by occupa- tion, and helped lay the foundation for the old St. Luke's church.
John J. Blubaugh was only six months old when brought by his parents to Knox county, and here amid the wild scenes of frontier life he was reared, pursuing his ed- ucation in a log schoolhouse, which was heated by an immense fireplace and lighted by greased paper windows. The other fur- nishings were equally crude and the instruc- tion was somewhat primitive in character. His training at farm work, however, was not meager, and he assisted his father until he had attained his majority, when he started out upon an independent business career, being employed for two years by the day or by the job at hard farm work, clearing,
I17
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
grubbing, making rails and cradling in the harvest field.
In 1852 as a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Mary Dial, a native of this county and a representative of one of its honored pioneer families. She is a daughter of William and Rebecca (Ar- nold) Dial. They began their domestic life in Brown township, Mr. Blubaugh building a house upon part of his father's land and about forty-five years ago they came to their home in Jefferson township, where they have since lived. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the midst of the forest. Not a tree had been cut upon the place, but with characteristic energy he began to clear the farm, and soon the wood- man's ax awakened the echoes of the forest. As the trees were hewn down and the brush cleared away he began plowing and planting, and in the course of a few years had a well developed farm. When the first home which he built was destroyed by fire, he immedi- ately erected another one and added other modern improvements, while his successful cultivation of the fields brought to him a comfortable competence.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Blubaugh were born eleven children, of whom three sons and four daughters are now living: Maria, the wife of James Smith, of Jefferson township; Jane, deceased ; James A .; Basil; Ellen, the wife of Joseph Fritz, of Loudonville, Ash- land county; Isabel, who has also passed away; William S .; Ida, wife of Joseph Har- lett ; Victoria, wife of Frank Sapp; Agnes, deceased; and Margaret T., who died when about two months old. James A. Blubaugh, who operates the home farm, married Sarah Agnes Hess and has nine children : Anna,
Rosa, Cosmos, Bernard, Julius, John, Ag- nes, Monica and Samuel.
In his political views Mr. Blubaugh was first a Whig, and in 1860 he voted for Abraham Lincoln, but since that time has adhered to the principles of the Democracy, save in local affairs, when he votes inde- pendently. He and his family are members of St. Luke's Catholic church in Danville, which he liberally assisted in building, and much of the brown stone used in its con- struction came from his farm, and which he and his sons, James A. and William Sher- man, quarried and donated. He also do- nated a memorial window as well as one of the stations. His life has been one of un- faltering industry, in which earnest labor and honesty in all business transactions has brought to him success.
MICHAEL KAYLOR.
The career of Michael Kaylor has been a successful one and entirely through his own efforts, as the result of his industry, perse- verance and capable control of his affairs, he became one of the most extensive land owners of the county. His home is now on section 9, Jefferson township, and there he is passing the evening of life quietly, for he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future confident that all will be well.
Mr. Kaylor was born December 20, 1818, in Alsace, France-a province now belonging to Germany-and was ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to New York city, where
118
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
they landed on the completion of an ocean voyage that was made in a sailing vessel. They took up their abode in the state of New York, where they remained seven years, and then came to Ohio, settling first in Holmes county. It was there that Michael Kaylor was united in marriage, at the age of twenty-eight years, to Elizabeth Wander, and in Holmes county they began their do- mestic life, there remaining for seven years. When he attained his majority his father gave him one hundred and fifty dollars, which was all the help he had in starting out in the world. Taking this sum to Zanes- ville, he entered one hundred and twenty acres of land along the east line of Knox county and gave a man an eight-year lease of the property, in return for which the man was to clear forty acres of the land. On coming to this county Mr. Kaylor took up his abode in Jefferson township and pur- chased the farm upon which he now lives of Arthur Greer. Here he has since re- mained, and through a long period devoted his energies to the cultivation of crops, whereby he gained a very desirable com- petence. As his financial resources increased he added to his original place of one hundred and sixty-five acres, and eventually became the owner of seven hundred and six acres. He has since given a good farm to each of his sons, also one to a daughter and an equivalent in money to another daughter, so that his children have been well provided for by a considerate father.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kaylor have been born ten children: Sarah, the widow of Samuel Brown; George, of Morrow county, Ohio; Mary, deceased; Benjamin, of Jef- ferson township; William, who is at home with his father; Philip, of Jefferson town-
ship; Simon, at the old homestead; Charles M., of Jefferson township; and a son and daughter who died in infancy. The mother died in 1894, after a long and happy mar- ried life. The homestead is now conducted by William Kaylor, whose wife was Ida LeFevre, and has four living children : Elfie E., Elmer J., Ethel E. and Edwin M.
Mr. Kaylor still holds a life lease upon the old homestead, which is the visible evi- dence of his active and useful career. His example is certainly well worthy of emula- tion, demonstrating what can be accom- plished by strong purpose and untiring labor. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but for many years has been a stalwart Repub- lican. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, but has long been a con- sistent member of the Wesleyan Methodist church at Greersville, and as an honored pioneer, an upright business man, a consid- erate husband and father and a sincere Chris- tian gentleman he well deserves mention in the history of the county which has been his home for so many years.
ABRAHAM PARSONS, M. D.
Dr. Abraham Parsons, one of the lead- ing physicians, is descended from an old and highly respected family in the Old Dominion. They trace their ancestry in that state to Baldwin Parsons, the great-great-grandfa- ther of our subject, who was born there at about the time the state first became settled. His son, Jonathan Parsons, was a native of that commonwealth, and became the father of Isaac Parsons, who also claimed Virginia as the state of his nativity. The latter, how-
119
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
ever, became one of the early pioneers of Holmes county, Ohio, where he followed agricultural pursuits. He was three times married, his first union being with a Miss Hyatt, by whom he had six children. For his second wife he chose Rachel Connor, and six children were also born of that union, while for his third wife he wedded Miss Christian Darrah. Three sons and a daugh- ter were born of that union.
Nathan Parsons, the third son of the first marriage, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, and on the paternal side he was de- scended from English ancestry, while on the maternal side he was of German descent. He was reared and received his education in the county of his nativity, there remaining until 1856, when he located on a farm near Danville, Union township, Knox county, where he spent his remaining days, passing away in death at the age of sixty-six years. For a companion on the journey of life he chose Maria Workman, a native of Coshoc- ton county, Ohio, and a daughter of Abra- ham Workman, who was born in the state of Maryland. In a very early day, how- ever, he removed with his father, Stephen Workman, also a native of Maryland, to Coshocton county, Ohio, where they were among the first settlers. The Workman family in America is descended from seven brothers who came to this country from Germany in a very early day. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Parsons were born seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely : Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Edith, Grace, Della and Ida J.
Dr. Parsons, the eldest child in the above family, was but eight years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Knox county, and nearly his entire life has
been passed in this locality, the early educa- tional privileges which he enjoyed being those afforded by the neighborhood schools. He subsequently entered Haysville Acad- emy, in Ashland county, in which institu- tion he was graduated in 1866, and immedi- ately afterward he entered upon the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. I. Putnam, of Brinkhaven, with whom he remained until the spring of 1870, and in the meantime he had graduated in Charity Hos- pital Medical College, of Cleveland. Thus with a thorough knowledge of the science of the medical profession he began practice in Brinkhaven, where he has even since re- mained, having built up an excellent practice and established a reputation as an able and skillful practitioner.
May 29, 1869, the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Salena Lanning, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, and a daugh- ter of Israel and Susan ( McCoy) Lanning. They have four children,-Lanning ; Gladys, wife of Dr. W. E. Purdy, a practicing physi- cian of Akron, Ohio, and who has two sons, Frederick and Meriwether; and Beryl and Harriet, at home. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic order at Danville, Ohio, ex- emplifying its beneficent principles in his everyday life.
Lanning Parsons, the eldest son of our honored subject, was born in Black Creek, Ohio, April 24, 1870, but was reared and educated in Brinkhaven, also attending Ob- erlin College, in which he was a student for two years. In 1892 he entered West Point, in which he was graduated in 1896, and was afterward made second lieutenant of the Ninth United States Cavalry, serving at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, for about two years. On the expiration of that period his regi-
I20
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
ment was ordered to Cuba, thence to Fort McPherson, Georgia, where he was engaged in drilling recruits. He was next stationed at Fort Apache, Arizona, from 1899 until 1900, and in the latter year was sent to the Philippines, where he remained until his regiment was ordered home. On the 2d of February, 1901, Lieutenant Parsons was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant of the Fourth United States Cavalry, which position lie still retains, and is now stationed with his regiment at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1897 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bradfield, a daughter of Dr. C. R. and Sarah (Dunlap) Bradfield, of Danville, and they have two children,-Har- riet E. and Isabel.
JOHN L. McKINLEY.
John L. Mckinley, one of the well- known and highly respected citizens of Knox county, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1848, a son of Jackson and Elizabeth ( Atkins) Mckinley. His father was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of August, 1821, a son of John and Mary ( McDonald) McKinley, both natives of Belfast, Ireland. They were married in their native land, and immediately thereafter emigrated to the United States, locating in Chester county, Pennsylvania, where he resumed the voca- tion of teaching, having devoted his energies to that profession in his native land, and continuing in that occupation until his sev- entieth year.
Jackson McKinley, the father of our sub- ject, spent his youth and early manhood un-
der the parental roof, during which time he received excellent advantages, graduating from college with the honors of his class. His marriage was celebrated in 1850, and shortly afterward, leaving his wife in her father's home in Jo Daviess county, Illi- nois, he crossed the plains to California, where he was engaged in mining for about three years. In the spring of 1853 he re- turned to Jo Daviess county, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the outbreak of the Civil war. At the first call for volunteers he put aside all personal con- siderations and nobly offered his services as a defender of the stars and stripes. At the close of his three months' term of enlist- ment he re-enlisted in the Twenty-first Illi- nois Infantry, under General Grant, in which he served until hostilities had ceased and the country no longer needed his services. Dur- ing his army career he was promoted from the ranks of a private to first duty sergeant of Company E. He underwent many hard- ships and privations during his experience as a soldier, having lost his hearing through the cannonading, and during the remainder of his life he was almost entirely deaf. After returning from the war he found his farm had been sold and his family had removed to Jones county, Iowa, in which place he soon joined them, and there he remained un- til 1868. In that year he removed to New- ton county, Missouri, but after a short resi- dence there he sold his possessions and went to Cass county, that state, where his death occurred in 1887. He became very promi- nent in the public life of the localities in which he made his home, and while residing in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, he served for two terms as assessor and collector, while for the same length of time he also served
121
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
as county superintendent of public instruc- tion. He was, however, never an aspirant for political honors, preferring to give his time principally to his business duties. For five years he was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
For his wife Mr. McKinley chose Eliza- beth Atkins, who was a native of north- eastern Kentucky and a daughter of Robert and Hannah (Ball) Atkins, natives of Maryland and of Welsh descent. For a number of years the father was employed as a boatman on the Ohio river, running from Allegheny City to Cairo, Illinois. The union of Mr. and Mrs. McKinley was blessed with eight children, five of whom still survive, namely: John L., the subject of this review; Robert P., a resident of Kan- sas City ; Frances, who has been employed as a teacher in a high school in Kansas City for nineteen years; Mary, the wife of Clar- ence Wresler, who is a merchant at Kan- sas City ; and Alonzo, cashier of the Santa Fe & Mexico Railway Company. The mother of this family is still living, and now makes her home in Kansas City, Missouri.
John L. Mckinley, whose name intro- duces this review, remained in his father's home until his fifteenth year, when he be- gan to earn his own living, and for the fol- lowing year was employed by a neighboring farmer. When the trouble between the north and south precipitated the country into civil war our subject loyally offered his serv- ices to his country's cause, enlisting in 1863 in Company E, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, but before his company left for the field of action he was taken home by his Grandfa- ther Atkins. But he still persisted in becom- ing a soldier boy, and later he ran away from his home and went to Galena, Illinois, where
with a schoolmate he again enlisted for service. He then returned to his home to gain the consent of his parents, and on the 24th of December, 1863, he donned the blue as a defender of the starry banner, serving as a true and loyal soldier until November 14, 1865, when hostilities had ceased. At the battle of Arcada, Tennessee, his horse was shot under him and he was wounded in the knee. During his military career he took part in many hard-fought battles and skirmishes, took part in Price's raid and was engaged in warfare against Quantrell in Missouri.
Returning to his home with a military record of which he has every reason to be proud, Mr. Mckinley then went to Galena, Illinois, but on the 21st of May, following, he returned to Jones county, Iowa. On the 6th of May, 1865, with a two-horse wagon, he started alone for the Indian Territory, where he joined a schoolmate who was en- gaged in trading with the Indians, arriving at the latter's place on the 9th of the fol- lowing June. On the 25th of that month he went to Humboldt, Kansas, where he re- mained for a time with friends, and in July secured a position as driver on the stage line, his route being from Humboldt to Ot- tawa, which position he continued to fill for fourteen months. From the following Sep- tember until February he was at Baxter Springs, Kansas, for the next two and a half years was engaged in driving cattle from Texas into Kansas, and in 1870 he jour- neyed to Denver, thence to Colorado Springs and Trinidad, on to Balt's Ranch, New Mex- ico, Virginia City, Montana, and next to Montgomery county, Kansas, where he se- cured a claim and was also employed by a mill company receiving a dollar and a half
8
I22
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
per day. Mr. Mckinley's next employment was as overseer of a ranch belonging to a civil engineer, which occupation claimed his time until 1874, and in that year he pur- chased a threshing outfit and continued its operation for the following two years, hav- ing operated the first threshing machine in Montgomery county, Kansas. The year 1876 witnessed his arrival in Knox county, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming in Howard township until the spring of 1889, when he was appointed to the position of su- perintendent of the county infirmary, con- tinuing to fill that office for ten consecutive years, when he resigned, but in the following year he was reappointed, and is the present incumbent.
In Montgomery county, Kansas, Mr. Mckinley was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Workman, a native of Knox coun- ty, Ohio, and a daughter of Amos Work- man, a prominent farmer of Howard town- ship. He came to the Buckeye state from Maryland, and was among the very early pioneers, his death here occurring. The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with one child, Clinton, who is now a prominent farmer of Liberty township. They have also reared an adopted daughter from the age of three months, Miss Maud McKinley. Mr. Mckinley exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and for three terms he served as trustee of his town- ship. Socially he is a member of Danville Lodge, F. & A. M .; Sycamore Valley Lodge, I. O. O. F .; and Joe Hooker Post, G. A. R. In manner he is courteous and genial, and among the people with whom he has been so long connected he is very popular.
JOSEPH C. BROWN.
As a young man this gentleman came to America, and without capital started out in a strange land to overcome the difficulties and obstacles in the path to prosperity. His youthful dreams have been realized, and in their happy fulfillment he sees the fitting re- ward of his earnest toil. He is now recog- nized as one of the leading and successful agriculturists of Knox county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.