USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 19
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The year 1862 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Vannatta and Miss Lovina Hawkins, of Mount Liberty, the eldest daughter of Isaac Hawkins, a prominent stock dealer
and wealthy farmer of Knox county. He came to this locality from Rockingham county, Virginia, in a very early day, and he has now reached the ripe old age of eighty years. His wife was a Miss Hudles- ton before her marriage, and was also from Rockingham county, Virginia. Three chil- dren have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vannatta. The eldest, F. A. Vannatta, is a successful farmer of Miller township. He married Miss Belle West, a daughter of Jay West, also of Miller township, and they have three children-Blanche, Samuel and Charles. The second son, C. O. Vannatta, resides on the old home in Miller township. He married Miss Maud Sperry, a daughter of Newton Sperry, of Miller township, and they also have three children-Olive, Enos and Anna. The only daughter of the fam- ily, Emeline, is now the wife of Calvin Forey, of Pleasant township, Knox county, and they have one child, Isabelle. In his social relations Mr. Vannatta is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and politically he casts his ballot in favor of the men and measures of the Republican party.
LEVI GRUBB.
Levi Grubb was born in Pike township April 14, 1843, and died on the 14th of July, 1901. He always resided in Knox county and his many excellencies of char- acter won for him the trust and respect of his fellow men. He was reared in the place of his nativity and during his youth became familiar with farm work in its various de- partments. The public schools afforded him his educational privileges and when
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young he also learned the carpenter's trade, his knowledge of this business proving a value to him as he carried on his work in later life, enabling him to keep everything about his place in excellent repair. In his farming he was progressive, practical and enterprising, and yearly his labors brought to him a good income.
February 1, 1871, Mr. Grubb was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Cole, a native of Knox county, born June 1, 1854. Her father, Isaac Cole, was a native of Connecti- cut and when a young man came to Ohio, where he met and married Mrs. Rachel Brown, who was also reared in Knox coun- ty, her people being early settlers here. Mrs. Grubb spent her girlhood days in Berlin township and there obtained her education. She was only seventeen years of age when she gave her hand in marriage to him whose name introduces this review. They became the parents of three children : Nettie, the wife of Wilson Yanger, a business man of Bellville, Ohio, and they have one child, Paul; Bertie, the wife of John Spohn, a resident farmer of Berlin township, and op- erating the home farm; and Clarence, who is living with his mother. She is the owner of one hundred and twenty-seven acres of good land, and to its improvement she gives her attention, supervising the work which annually results in good harvests. She is a most estimable lady and her circle of friends is almost co-extensive with her circle of ac- quaintances. Mr. Grubb was a prominent and influential citizen. In his business meth- ods he was straightforward and honorable. He belonged to. the Grange, gave his po- litical support to the Democracy, and was a member of the German Baptist church. One of his marked characteristics was his
fidelity to principle, and in all life's relations he commanded the warm regard and con- fidence of his fellow men.
BENJAMIN L. GRIFFITH.
A valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Pike township is the property of Benjamin L. Griffith, one of the worthy citizens that Pennsylvania has furnished to the Buckeye state. He was born in Ches- ter county, October 19, 1839, and is of Welch lineage. His parental grandfather was Abel Griffith and the father of our subject was Morris Griffith, the latter also a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and by occupation a carpenter. In 1855 he came with his family to Ohio, locating in Wayne county, but after a year's residence removed to Pike township, Knox county, settling upon the farm which is now the home of our subject and which he made his place of residence until his death. He had passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey when called to his final rest. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and his religious faith was indicated by his member- ship in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Sparr, was born in Chester coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and there remained until with her husband she came to Ohio, where she died in hier eighty-seventh year. She was a daughter of Frederick Sparr, who was of German lineage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Griffith were born three sons, of whom our subject is the eldest, the second, Nathan, is now deceased, while William M. resides four miles south of Mansfield, Ohio.
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Benjamin L. Griffith is now the only liv- ing representative of the family in Knox county. He was about sixteen years of age when his parents came to this locality. He had previously attended school in Pennsyl- vania and in Wayne county, Ohio, and here he continued his education in the schools of Pike township. Upon the home farm he be- came familiar with all the work of an agri- culturist and remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age, but in the fall of 1864 he left home, going to Whiteside coun- ty, Illinois, where he remained from the Ist of September of that year until September, 1865. Through the eleven succeeding years he resided in Knox county, and in 1866 again went to the Prairie state, where he worked at the carpenter's trade ; later he re- moved to Iowa, spending about three years in Tama and Benton counties, where he fol- lowed farming and threshing, and was also identified with the building interests of those localities. On the expiration of that period he returned to Ohio and located on the farm where he now lives, but his residence here has not been continuous, for once more he returned to Whiteside county, Illinois, where he spent five years. Since 1875, however, he has devoted his time and energies to the improvement of the old farm homestead and now has a valuable tract of land comprising a quarter section. He follows general farm- ing and stock raising and his place is an in- dication that his efforts are meeting with prosperity.
On the 7th of February, 1867, Mr. Grif- fith wedded Rachel Hiner, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, February 17, 1844, and is a daughter of Leonard and Mary (Spahr) Hiner, who were natives of Penn- sylvania, the former born in Lancaster coun-
ty and the latter in Chester county. They were married in the Keystone state, and af- terward removed to Wayne county, Ohio, subsequently to Ashland county. In their family were five daughters and two sons, Mrs. Griffith being the fifth child and the fourth daughter. She was reared in Mer- cer county, Pennsylvania, until four years of age, after which she spent seven years in Whiteside county, Illinois, and then went to Benton county, Iowa, where she gave her hand in marriage to our subject. They have two sons, William M., who wedded Grace Banks, by whom he has a daughter, Annie I., and Calvin Jay who married Villa O'Brien. They also have a daughter, Flor- ence L.
On questions of national importance Mr. Griffith is a stalwart Republican, but at local elections he considers only the capability of the candidate and feels himself not bound by party ties. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, in which he is serv- ing as class-leader. He takes an active part and contributes liberally to its support and does all in his power for the promotion of the cause. There is much in his career that is commendable, including loyalty in citi- enship, truthworthiness in business and hon- or in all the relations of private life.
MAJOR NATHANIEL CRITCHFIELD.
Major Nathaniel Critchfield, one of the prominent early settlers of Knox county, an ex-soldier of the Civil war and at all times a loyal citizen, is numbered among the lead- ing farmers of his locality. He is a native son of Howard township, his birth having here occurred on the 25th of February, 1834,
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and he is of German descent. His paternal grandfather, Nathaniel Critchfield, was a na- tive of the state of Maryland, but in a very early day he came to Knox county, Ohio, entering eight hundred acres of land in Howard township, where he spent the re- mainder of his life, passing away in death at a ripe old age. He became a very prominent man in his locality, and for many years lie held the office of justice of the peace. The father of our subject, Benjamin Critchfield, was also a native of Maryland, but when on- ly seven years of age he was brought by his parents to the Buckeye state. After his mar- riage he located on a farm in Howard town- ship, where he followed farming and black- smithing for many years. His life's labors were ended in death when he had reached the age of eighty-four years. In early life he gave his political support to the Democ- racy, but after the organization of the Re- publican party he joined its ranks, voting for Abraham Lincoln.
Mr. Critchfield was married in Howard township, Knox county, to Mary Welker, who also claimed Maryland as the state of her nativity, as did her father, .Abraham Welker, and the family was of German de- scent. Unto this worthy couple were born nine children, but only two of the number grew to mature years. The mother was called to her final rest when she had reached the age of eighty-two years.
Nathaniel Critchfield, whose name intro- duces this review, was reared to manhood on his father's farm in this locality, and the ear- ly educational advantages which he enjoyed were those afforded by the primitive schools of the neighborhood, which he was only per- mitted to attend during a few months of the year. Later, however, he attended a select
school in Mount Vernon, which was taught by R. R. Sloan. In 1856, when a young man, he undertook the long and tedious jour- ney across the plains, but after reaching Iowa the company of which he was a mem- ber disbanded, and he then returned to his old home in Knox county. The year fol- lowing his marriage the Civil war was in- augurated, and on the 17th of October, 1861, Mr. Critchfield became a member of Com- pany A, Sixty-fifth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, entering the ranks as a private, but he soon received his commission as principal musician of his regiment, serving in that capacity for seventeen months. He partici- pated in the battle of Stone River, which continued for eight days, was in the battle of Shiloh and also took part in many of the other important engagements of the war. On three occasions he was slightly wounded, but never seriously, and after the close of hostilities, with an honorable military career, he returned to his home to again take up the duties of civil life. He has ever since de- voted his attention to general farming. He follows advanced and progressive methods of agriculture, and his place is neat and thrifty in appearance, owing to his diligent labors and careful supervision.
In October, 1860, occurred the marriage of Mr. Critchfield and Miss Ellen E. Cassil, who was born in Howard township, October 14, 1836, a daughter of John and Matilda (Critchfield) Cassil. The father came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, to the Buckeye state in a very early day, locating in Howard township, Knox county, and here his remaining days were passed, dy- ing at the age of sixty-five years. The mother was a native daughter of Knox coun- ty, and she reached the ripe old age of eigh-
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ty-four years. She was an earnest Christian woman, and was a worthy and valued mem- ber of the Christian church, in which Mr. Critchfield also holds membership. Mr. and Mrs. Cassil became the parents of three chil- dren, two daughters and a son, as follows: Mrs. Critchfield; James R., deceased; and Nancy J., who has also passed to her final rest. The union of our subject and wife was blessed with two children, but both have now passed away,-Johanna B., who died in her twenty-sixth year, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Critchfield is a member of LeRoy Baker Post, No. 150, G. A. R., of Danville, in which he has held many of the offices, and for thirty-five years he has also been a member of the Masonic order, his membership being with the lodge at Dan- ville.
JOHN C. DURBIN.
Many years have passed since John C. Durbin became a resident of Knox county and he has therefore witnessed much of its development and progress as it emerged from a frontier settlement to a county rank- ing with the best in this great common- wealth. He feels just pride in what has been accomplished and in the work of im- provement he has borne his part as a loyal and progressive citizen.
Mr. Durbin was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1839, and is the fifth son of ten children born to John A. and Margaret (Logston) Durbin. He was only five years of age when the parents came with their children to Knox county and there amid the wild scenes of pioneer
life was reared. He lived in Howard town- ship and attended the district schools of the neighborhood, and in the summer months worked in the fields planting, plowing and harvesting. Here he resided until his mar- riage, which occurred on the 20th of Oc- tober, 1863, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Colopy, a native of Coshoc- ton county, Ohio, born August 22, 1838, her parents being Thomas and Margaret (Bowman) Colopy. They were natives of Ireland, were married in the Emerald Isle and one child was born to them ere their emigration to America. Mrs. Durbin is their fourth daughter and seventh child. She was reared in Linton township, Cochoc- ton county, the days of her girlhood being passed as that of most of the girls of that period. She attended the public schools and became familiar with the different depart- ments of housework under the direction of her mother.
At the time of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Durbin began their domestic life in Howard township, Knox county, and upon their first farm remained for six years, after which they spent thirteen years upon an- other farm in the same township. They next removed, in March, 1883, to the farm which has since been their home. Here Mr. Durbin owns and operates ninety-seven acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. There are good buildings, including a new and commodious barn, upon the place, and the farm is divided into fields of various sizes by well kept fences. His is one of the most attractive homes in the county. The cultivation bestowed upor. his land results in securing for him rich harvests and annually his income increases.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Durbin have been born eight children: Thomas B., who mar- ried Mary Jane Durbin, a daughter of Ben- jamin Durbin; Francis J., who wedded Agatha Swingle, a daughter of Christ Swingle; Mary C., the wife of Clement E. Durbin; Elizabeth B., the wife of Joseph Grassbaugh: Peter, Ludjer, Raymond and Sylvester, all of whom are still with their parents. The family circle is yet unbroken by the hand of death and the youngest child is now twenty-one years of age. All have been well educated and three of the number have been successful school teachers, while one of the sons is engaged in the grocery business in Mount Vernon. The family are all communicants of St. Luke's Catholic church at Danville and Mr. Durbin took an active part in erecting the new house of worship there. He has usually given his po- litical support to the Democracy but has never sought or desired political offices, be- lieving that it would interfere with his busi- ness whereby he is winning a comfortable competence.
OTIS SEARL.
The subject of this memoir was one to whom the words of the poet are particularly applicable : "A friend to truth, of soul sin- cere ; in action thoughtful and in honor clear, who broke no promise, served no private end; who gained no title and who lost 110 friend." He was ennobled by himself and the approval of his own conscience, and in his death, on the 12th of February, 1901, Knox county lost one of its honored pioneer citizens and one whose life has been one of signal usefulness and honest worth. He
came to the county in an early day and lo- cated on the farm where his death occurred, having made that place his home for more than half a century, and having ever com- manded the unequivocal confidence and es- teem of the community. It is signally con- sistent that a memorial tribute to him be in- corporated in this publication.
Mr. Scarl was born in the town of Low- ville, Lewis county, New York, on the 28th of March, 1819, and was reared on a farm in that immediate locality. In the common schools of his native county he secured that preliminary training which so effectively served as the basis of that broad fund of knowledge which he later gained by person- al application extensive and judicious read- ing and by long association with the prac- tical affairs of life. He was a man of dis- tinct individuality and marked intellectual strength, and these attributes naturally gave him an influential position in the commun- ity. In the year 1849 Mr. Searl came to Ohio and located in Wayne township, Knox county, on the farm which thereafter con- tinued to be his abiding place until death placed its seal upon his mortal lips. He first purchased a tract of fifty acres, and he later added to the same until he at one time owned an estate of nearly two hundred acres. Upon the homestead he made improvements of admirable order, including the fine resi- dence where his widow still resides, making the farni one of the best in this section of the state. He developed the farm from what was practically a sylvan wild, and here gave his attention to general agricul- ture, stock-raising and dairying, having had a well-equipped cheese dairy, in which he continued to manufacture the highest grade of products for more than
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a quarter of a century. He was a man of initiative power, and thus ever took advantage of new and improved ap- pliances and methods in the conducting of his business enterprises, thus conserving a success above the average. His homestead, which now comprises eighty acres, may well be pointed out as a model farm, and it will ever remain a memorial to his ability and progressive methods.
In his political adherency Mr. Searl was stanchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, his con- victions in this line being well fortified, as were they on all other matters of import, and his eligibility for public office was thor- oughly appreciated in the community, as is evident from the fact that he was called upon to serve as township trustee and in other local offices of trust and responsibility. He passed away in the fulness of years and well earned honors, and his memory will be held in lasting veneration by those who came within the sphere of his influence. His com- plete conversion to the Christian faith was an incident of the last year of his life, in January, 1900. He also became a great reader of the Bible, and thus continued until his eyesight failed, after which his wife con- tinued to read to him from the blessed book. He would often repeat the Lord's prayer. On account of feeble health he never became a member of a church, and his last days were peacefully passed and were brightened by his deep trust in his divine Master.
Mr. Searl was twice married. On the 6th of June, 1849, Miss Pamelia Livingston became his wife and she passed away on the 18th of October, 1891, there having been no children of this union. On the 8th of Feb- ruary, 1893, was solemnized his marriage to
Miss Lena Howard, who was born in Mor- row county, Ohio, the daughter of Henry and Ann Howard, both of whom now make their home with Mrs. Searl, each being eigh- ty-two years of age at the time of this writ- ing (March, 1902). Mrs. Searl resides on the beautiful homestead farm, taking a prominent part in the social life of the com- munity and being held, in the highest esteem by a large circle of devoted friends.
JACOB B. MYERS.
Among the worthy citizens that Penn- sylvania has furnished to Ohio is Jacob Ben- jamin Myers, who for many years has car- ried on general farming in Knox county, but is now living retired in Mount Vernon, enjoying a well merited rest. He was born in Bedford county, of the Keystone state, July 24, 1828, a son of Jesse and Eleanor (Louderbaugh) Myers. The family is of German lineage and was founded in Amer- ica by the grandfather of our subject, who sailed from Germany and took up his abode in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, when that region was just being opened up to civiliza- tion. There he spent his remaining days, but his wife afterward died in Knox county, Ohio.
Jesse Myers, the father of our subject, was born in Bedford county, and after ar- riving at years of maturity he wedded Elean- or Louderbaugh, also a native of the same county. In 1837, accompanied by their fam- ily, they started westward and took up their abode in Clinton township. Knox county, but afterward removed to Pleasant town- ship, where they remained until called to the
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home beyond. The father passed away in 1869, but the mother long survived him and died in 1897. Mr. Myers was a farmer and also engaged in digging wells. He dug many of the early wells of Mount Vernon and was an active factor in reclaiming the wild land for purposes of civilization, carry- ing on his farming operations quite exten- sively. His industry, his honorable business methods and his capable management made him one of the leading agriculturists of the community and he became widely and favor- ably known. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Myers were born seven children: Mary Ann, the deceased wife of Lloyd McDonald; Eliza- beth Ann, the wife of Harvey Branyan; Catharine; Jacob, the subject of this review ; John, who was the treasurer and county recorder of Knox county, and was for many years very prominent in public affairs ; Eliza, who resides in Mount Vernon; and Jesse F., who is foreman in the paint shops of the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railroad, in Mount Vernon.
In the public schools near his home Jacob Benjamin Myers, whose name begins this record, pursued his education, and upon the home farm he was trained to the work of the fields. Like most young men when starting cut upon an independent career he desired a companion and helpmate for the journey of life and chose Miss Martha Ann Young, the wedding being celebrated on the 29th of No- vember, 1855. The lady was a daughter of Reese and Eliza (Gates) Young, and died May 14, 1885. For his second wife Mr. Myers married Margaret, the daughter of Reuben and Saralı (Good) Dutt. She was born April 19, 1850, and was married No- vember 18, 1884. Her father was a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and
her mother was born in New Jersey. In 1870 they removed to Marshallville, Wayne county, Ohio, and later went to Medina county, this state, where the mother died June 15, 1876. Subsequently the father be- came a resident of Gibson, Kansas, where his life's labors were ended on the 18th of April, 1882. They were the parents of nine children : Eliza, deceased; Cortland B., who lives in Akron, Ohio; Anna, the widow of Oscar Carr and a resident of Akron; Sarah, who is the widow of Jacob Hess and makes her home in Cleveland; Margaret, now Mrs. Myers; George, deceased, late of Mount Vernon; Nathan, who is a resident of Kansas; Reuben, who makes his home in Akron; and Mary, the wife of George Drisback, of Bangor, Pennsylvania. The father of this family was a blacksmith and carriage-maker and his life was one of in- dustry and honest toil. For ten years he was postmaster at [his old Pennsylvania home. His son, Cortland, was a soldier in the Civil war, and during his service was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville, where he was incarcerated for eighteen months.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Myers are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church in Mount Vernon. Politically Mr. Myers is a life-long Democrat, and has served many years in important public capacities. Throughout the years of his active business career he was connected with agricultural in- terests in Knox county. He was only about ten years of age when brought by his par- ents to Ohio, and during his youth he shared with the family in many of the hardships in- cident to life on the frontier. He has done much toward clearing and developing his portion of the county and lived in his present
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neighborhood when there was nothing but a great wilderness all around him, there being but two other houses on the Gambier road between him and the city, which then con- sisted of one store. In addition to the home he also owns what is known as the old In- dian field, adjoining the city, upon which for many years the tribe maintained an In- dian village. As the years have passed he has aided in pushing forward the wheels of progress and his labors have been very bene- ficial in developing this portion of the state. He has taken just pride in what has been accomplished in the county and well does he deserve to be numbered among its leading and influential citizens.
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