USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 47
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merciless flames. The following Sunday was a sad day for St. Luke's. Those pres- ent can never forget, the entire congregation weeping as they assembled for mass in the the old frame building close to where the church stood. Father McDermott spoke very feelingly of the sad affair, and in a thrilling burst of eloquence begged the peo- ple to stand by him, and in a short time they would have a more beautiful church than ever. The people complied with his request with a faithfulness that even surpassed his expectations. The result seems almost in- credible and stands without parallel in the annals of American history, for in less than two years he had purchased an entire square in the center of the beautiful town of Dan- ville and erected thereon the magnificent gothic church which is the largest building of any kind in the county, and in beauty of architecture and splendor of finish it can hardly be surpassed anywhere; also the splendid parochial residence, which is con- ceded to be one of the most beautiful in the county. The most remarkable fact of all is that in less than two years from the date of the burning of the old church, the mag- nificent new property, worth forty thousand dollars, was entirely paid for. During his pastorate of Danville, he received into the church over seventy grown converts. Father McDermott is not only a trusted leader of his own people, but people of all religious persuasions seek his advice in important matters. His fellow citizens regard him as the soul of honor and he is always a leader in every movement calculated to advance the good of his fellow townsmen or the com- munity at large. There seems to be an un- dercurrent -of fear among all classes that his phenomenal success and national reputa-
tion may be the cause of taking him away to a larger field of labor, and removing him from Danville, where his presence now seems indispensable.
CHARLES MURRAY.
The prominent land-owner of Clay town- ship, Knox county, Ohio, whose name is above and whose postoffice address is Mar- tinsburg, was born in Coschocton county, Ohio, February 27, 1839. Simon Murray, his father, was born on the Virginian pan- handle in 1808, and was brought to Coshoc- ton county, Ohio, by his parents when he was eleven years old. There he grew to manhood and married, and in April, 1867, he removed with his family to Clay town- ship, Knox county, and located on the farm now owned by his son Charles, where he died in 1889, in his eighty-first year. He was until the period of the war a Democrat and from that time until the end of his days he was a Republican, and he was a de- vout and helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Adam Murray, father of Simon Murray and grandfather of Charles Murray, was a native of Ireland, where he was reared and married. He came to America about 1805 and located at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a weaver by trade and a man of good abilities and recognized influence. He had seven children, six of them sons, and he buried his only daughter at sea on the way to America from his native land. Simon, his oldest son, was the last of the sons to die. He married Ruth A. Cochran, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, and
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
a daughter of William Cochran, who was an early settler there and who was born in Maryland. His father came from Dublin, Ireland, and was married after his arrival in the United States. Ruth A. (Cochran) Murray, who is now eighty-two years old, bore her husband ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom first saw the light of day in Coshocton county, Ohio, and all of whom, except one who died at the age of seven years, lived to manhood and womanhood.
Charles Murray, son of Simon and Ruth A. (Cochran) Murray, was a second child and eldest son of his parents. He received a common-school education and was duly initiated into the mysteries of farming and was a member of his parents' household until 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Thir- ty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, in which he served as a private about a year, and was then honorably discharged, at Camp Chase, on account of disability. He returned to Coschocton county, Ohio, and soon went to McLean county, Illinois, where he herded sheep about two years. Thence he went back to Coshocton county, and in 1867, as has been stated, he removed to Knox county, Ohio, and for nine years thereafter he was engaged in the grocery and hardware trade at Martinsburg. Meantime he became the owner of three farms in Clay township, the same having a combined area of four hundred and sixteen acres, and to the culti- vation and rental of this estate has since de- voted himself.
Mr. Murray was married in December, 1868, to Caroline A. Lawman, daughter of David and Anna (Bowman) Lawman. David Lawman, who is a stanch Republican, is well known throughout the county, having filled the offices of postmaster, justice of
the peace and notary public many years. Mrs. Murray, who died March 9, 1899, leaving no children, was the second in order of birth of the five children of her parents. She was reared and educated at Martinsburg, Knox county, and at Hayesville, Ashland county, Ohio, and was a well educated and well in- formed woman of many graces and accom- plishments.
Mr. Murray, who was a Republican, and has never voted any ticket except that of his party, has served his fellow citizens as jus- tice of the peace, constable, assessor and township clerk. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he fills the office of trustee.
ISRAEL LANNING.
Israel Lanning, who died January I, 1902, was engaged in farming on section 3, Union township, and throughout a long and useful life he ever proved a loyal citizen to his country. He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, May 25, 1821. The Lanning family was founded in America by three brothers who came from England and set- tled in the east. One of these brothers was the father of Richard Lanning, the grand- father of him whose name introduces this review. At the time of the Revolutionary war Richard Lanning joined the colonial troops as a drummer boy and when older enlisted as a regular soldier, his period of service covering five years, during which time he loyally defended the cause of the colonies and fought for their freedom. To the same family belonged General John Lanning, who was a cousin of Jacob Lann- ing, the father of our subject. The mother
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of the latter bore the maiden name of Anna Andes. She was born in Strasburg and educated in an English school in Paris. She was a sister of Martin Andes, the great ship- owner of New Orleans.
Jacob Lanning was born in Vermont or Massachusetts and was a farmer and me- chanic. At an early day he came to Ohio, and in Harrison county was married to Miss Margaret Moore, a native of Loudoun coun- ty, Virginia, and a daughter of Richard Moore, who was born and reared in the Old Dominion. He was of Scotch and Irish descent and was a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Lanning spent her girlhood days near Baltimore, Maryland, coming thence to Ohio. At the time of the second war with Great Britain Jacob Lanning offered his aid to the government and served under com- mand of Captain Holmes and General Har- rison. He participated in the battle of the Thames and assisted in building the block- house at Fort Wayne, for protection from Indians. He removed from Harrison to Guernsey county, Ohio, but spent his last days in Cochocton county, where he died at the age of fifty years. He gave his politi- cal support to the Whig party, cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison and in his community filled several local offices. He belonged to the Methodist church, of which his wife also was a consistent member. She lived to be about seventy-nine years of age. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters, all of whom reached mature years, namely : Sarah, the wife of Joseph Whitaker, of Indiana; Mary Ann, who mar- ried Aaron Norris and died at the age of eighty years; Richard, who was a member of the Eightieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was killed at the battle of Corinth;
Israel, of this review; and William, who died at the age of thirty-five years.
Israel Lanning, the fourth member of the family and the second son, was reared in Guernsey county, Ohio, until thirteen years of age and there began his education in a primitive log school-house, with rude furn- ishings and paper windows. He accom- panied his parents to Coschocton county, where he assisted in the development and cul- tivation of the farm and also continued his education in another log school-house. When he was sixteen years of age his father died and soon afterward he went to the city of Coshocton to learn the trade of a harness and saddle maker, serving an apprenticeship of three years. Subsequently he was em- ployed at that work in West Bedford, Ohio, for a year, after which he lived with an uncle near Bedford for two years.
As a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Mr. Lanning chose Miss Susan McCoy, a native of Bedford township, Coshocton county, where their wedding was celebrated January 25, 1842. They began their domestic life upon a rented farm and after two years Mr. Lanning purchased a tract of land which he continued to cultivate for eight years. He then sold it and bought another farm in the same county, residing thereon up to the time of the breaking out of the civil war when he was appointed by Governor Tod to the position of enrolling officer, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He enrolled many hundred sol- diers and though his position was often a hazardous one he always remained at his post of duty. His life was many times threatened and he had a number of narrow escapes. He received three dollars per day
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365
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
for his services and only charged up the time which was actually spent in the government employ. At one time during the war he also made up a purse of about seven hundred dol- lars, of which he gave two hundred dollars, and, taking another man with him, he went to Columbus to help fill up a vacancy, as there was a call for more men than could be spared from his township. He was in- deed a true and loyal servant of the govern- ment,-one whose heart was in his work for the good he could do his country and not the money he could make.
After the war Mr. Lanning resumed farming in Coshocton county, where he re- mained until 1880, when he came to Knox county, locating in Howard township. In 1882 he sold his land there and came to the present home, on section 3, Union town- ship, where he owned one hundred and fifty- six acres of rich land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and yields a golden tribute for the care and labor be- stowed upon it.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lanning were born eleven children : Silas, who served as a sol- dier in the civil war; Salena, the wife of Dr. Abraham Parsons, of Brinkhaven; Sarah, who was the wife of Levi Bradfield; Ma- linda, the wife of Thomas Bradfield, of Holmes county, Ohio; Mary, wife of A. Bartlett, of Danville, Knox county ; Louisa, wife of Orlando McCoy; Melvilla, the widow of William McFarlin; Margaret, wife of Newton Whinrey, of Toledo, Ohio; Harriet, wife of Ingham Kinsey, of Union township; Edwin, of Holmes county; and William, near the old homestead. The chil- dren have all been provided with excellent educational privileges and five of the daugh- ters were successful teachers. There are
also sixty grandchildren and about fifteen great-grandchildren.
For half a century Mr. Lanning was a member of the Masonic fraternity and for more than that length of time belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, with which denomination his paternal and maternal ancestors also were identified. His life was one of marked industry, characterized by fidelity to every duty and the faithful per- formance of every obligation resting upon him, and his worth and work were most commendable.
GEORGE W. SHIPLEY.
The farming interests of Knox county are well represented by George W. Shipley, a leading agriculturist of Pike township, liv- ing on section 14; this is the old farm home- stead and was the place of his birth, which here occurred April 19, 1838. His father, Elias Shipley, was a native of Maryland and in that state he wedded Miss Rebecca Phil- lips, who was also born and reared there. In the year 1830, he brought his family to Knox county, locating upon what has since been the Shipley homestead, but when he took up his abode there his land was covered with a dense growth of forest trees, in the midst of which he built a log cabin. With characteristic energy he began the develop- ment of a farm and succeeded in transform- ing his place into richly cultivated fields. In politics he was a life-long Democrat and for many years was a devoted and zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died in September, 1861, at his homestead, at the age of seventy years, while his wife
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passed away in Indiana at the age of eighty- seven. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, eight of whom reached mature years. Of this number George W. Shipley was the eleventh.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for our sub- ject in his youth. He pursued his education in a log school-house, which was supplied with slab seats, while the writing desks were formed by boards laid upon pins driven into the wall, but though his educational privi- leges were limited, reading, experience and observation have made him a well informed man. After attaining to man's estate he was married, October 29, 1861, to Miss Sarah J. Rummel, who is a native of Richland county, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (McPhern) Rummel, and who is one week younger than her husband. They began their domestic life upon the old home- stead, where Mr. Shipley has resided for sixty-three years. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Mary G., the wife of Robert S. Clarke, of St. Johns, Mich- igan ; Williard B., who married Nina B. Ad- ams and who resides on part of the home place ; and Edwin R., who is a mechanic of Mount Vernon, Ohio. All were born on the old Shipley farm.
This place comprises one hundred and sixty acres of good land, and under the care- ful supervision of the owner it has become a very productive tract, supplied with all modern improvements and equipments. Mr. Shipley is the oldest resident in the township and through more than six decades he has witnessed the growth and progress made in this portion of the state, as the wild land has been transformed into homes and farms and the work of improvement has been carried
steadily forward, placing Knox county upon a par with the best counties in this great commonwealth. In 1860, he cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas, and has since supported the party, being a stanch Democrat. He has been honored with the office of trustee and treasurer in his township and has ever been found a patri- otic and public-spirited citizen.
LEWIS B. SCOTT.
Among the representatives of Irish fam- ilies who have nobly done their part in the development of the varied interests of Knox county, Ohio, perhaps none is better known than Lewis B. Scott, a prominent farmer of Butler township, some account of whose career it will be attempted to give in this connection.
Lewis B. Scott was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, March 3, 1838. Alexander Scott, his father, was born in Ireland and when quite a young man came to America, locating eventually in Coshocton county, Ohio. He married Eve Earlywine, a native of Knox county, Ohio, and she bore him seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest.
It was in the common schools near the home of his parents that Lewis B. Scott ob- tained his education. In 1859 he married Martha Ann Blunt, a native of Jackson township, Knox county, Ohio, whose par- ents, James and Mary Blunt, were born in Ohio. Lewis B. and Martha Ann (Blunt) Scott are the parents of eight children named as follows: James, Ida L., Ross, Jane, Adam, Vertie E., Lewis W. and Alice B. When he came to Knox county, Mr.
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Scott was twenty-two years old. He located on an eighty-acre farm in Jackson township and lived there eight years. After that he worked his mother's farm, in the same town- ship, until 1879, when he located on his present farm, much of which he cleared and on which he has made many substantial im- provements. He devotes himself success- fully to general farming. In politics he is Democratic and he has in many ways demon- strated his public spirit. He is a member of the Disciples' church.
BARNETT B. WORKMAN.
This well-known agriculturist of Brown township is one of Ohio's native sons, his birth having occurred in Brown township, Knox county, October 7, 1843. His father, John J. Workman, was born in the common- wealth of Maryland, March 29, 1814, but when only six months old he was brought by his father, Joseph Workman, also a native of Maryland, came to Knox county, Ohio, the family locating in Union township. There Mr. Workman spent nearly his entire life, dying there at the age of eighty-three years. He became an elder in the German Baptist church, of which he was long a worthy and consistent member, and in all the relations of life he was true to his honest convictions. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Lucretia Dewitt, and she was also a member of an old and prominent pioneer family of the Buckeye state. Her death oc- curred in 1874. Unto this worthy couple were born five sons and three daughters, namely : Harvey, who died at the age of two years ; Barnett B., the subject of this review ;
Joseph T., a prominent farmer of Brown township; Elisha, also of this township; Mark, deceased; Hannah, the deceased wife of John Faucett; Nancy J., the wife of John Faucett, of Harrison township; and Sarah L., the wife of John Hanger, of Union town- ship.
Barnett B. Workman received a com- mon-school education in his early life, and after putting aside his text-books as a pupil he again entered the schoolroom as an in- structor, in Fulton county, Illinois, while for a time he also followed the teacher's profes- sion in Brown township, Knox county, Ohio. After his marriage he continued in that oc- cupation during two winter seasons, and about 1871 he purchased the farm on which he now resides, consisting of two hundred acres. Since locating upon this land he has made many needed improvements, has placed his fields . under a fine state of cultivation, and his is now one of the finest homesteads in the township. He has also purchased and given to his son John a farm of one hundred and ten acres. He enjoys an enviable repu- tation for business sagacity and uprightness in all his dealings, and all respect and admire him for his manly course in life.
. The marriage of Mr. Workman was cel- ebrated on the 25th of October, 1868, when Louisa Howard became his wife. She is a native of Pike township, Knox county, and a daughter of John and Mary Howard. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Workman four daughters and two sons are living: Hattie M., wife of Samuel Baker, a farmer of Pike township, Knox county; Daisy F., wife of John Koopert, of Brown township, and they have two children, Ray and Leaflet; John H., at home; Mary L., the wife of Albertus Wyhart, of Brown township, and they have
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one son, Workman; Delia, a prominent and successful teacher of Brown township; and Mark U., at home. Mr. Workman is an ac- tive worker and leading member of the Ger- man Baptist church, and in his political affil- iations he is a Democrat.
LEANDER CAYWOOD.
Leander Caywood, proprietor of the Kokosing herd of Polled Durham cattle, of Middlebury township, was born in that township January 9, 1844. Almost nine decades have been added to the cycle of the centuries since the Caywood family was planted on the soil of Knox county by the grandfather of our subject, William Cay- wood. He was a native of New Jersey and in 1812 came to Ohio, entering land from the government in Middleburg township, Knox county, where he resided until death ended his labors in 1816. His body was in- terred in the Friends' cemetery, where stood the old Owl creek monthly meeting house, now destroyed, and where many of the pi- oneer settlers of this part of the county were buried. His wife having died in New Jer- sey he brought his three sons, William, Da- vid and John, to the western reserve, but the hostility of the Indians caused him soon afterward to take them back to their grand- father, with whom John remained until 1830. His brothers, however, returned and took charge of their father's estate about the time of his death. David was killed by a falling tree, while William remained in this community, neither having ever mar- ried. John Caywood was married in Mid- dlebury township to Miss Sarah E. Mur-
phy, a native of the township and a daughter of William Murphy, who came from Penn- sylvania to Knox county in the primitive period of its development. Mr. and Mrs. Caywood began their domestic life upon a farm that had been purchased in 1812 by. his father, and there they spent their re- maining days, both dying at the age of sev- enty-two years. His early political support was given to the Whig party and on its dis- solution he joined the ranks of the new Re- publican party. Of the thirteen children of John and Sarah Murphy, nine lived to adult age, of whom four sons and two daughters are still living. Three of the sons placed their lives in jeopardy in their country's service during the Civil war, Abner, Syl- vester and Leander, and the latter is the only present survivor.
The sixth child that came to join this family circle was Leander Caywood, and like the other members of the household he was accorded the educational privileges af- forded in a log school house. His training at farm work was not meager, for he early became a factor in the development and im- provement of his father's farm. He was married in March, 1872, to Miss Frank Ewers, who was born in Perry township, Richland county, November 23, 1848, and is a daughter of David G. and Almina (Johnson) Ewers. David G. Ewers was a son of Robert and Martha (Gregg) Ewers, a couple who in youth had eloped and were married in the middle of the Potomac river. She was a worthy representative of the Gregg family who were compelled to un- dergo the terrible hardships incident to the memorable siege of Londonderry, Ireland, the blood of her Presbyterian Scotch-Irish ancestors surging strong in her own veins.
Leander Cayword
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OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
Robert Ewers was a son of Jolin and Sarah (Gladden) Ewers, of Loudoun county, Vir- ginia, the ancestry of this family being traced back to the Norman conquest. The first to settle in the colonies was established on the Delaware river, near Philadelphia, and upon the destruction of his property by the British removed to Virginia. Beside Robert Ewers and his brother, David, who came to Knox county in 1812, Richard and Jonathan soon followed, and all attained to advanced years and all lie buried in the Friends' cemetery. Robert settled in the northern part of Middlebury township, where he lived and died, owning upward of one thousand acres of valuable land. His children were: G. Washington, John William, David, Robert, Thomas, Maria (who became Mrs. William Bigbee) and Martha (who married W. S. Files ). John is the only survivor, and he is in his eighty- sixth year. G. Washington and Martha removed to Missouri about 1866, where both died. Robert went to Iowa when that state was new. Thomas and William re- mained in Knox county, the former becom- ing the owner of the old homestead. Al- mina Johnson, the mother of Mrs. Caywood, was a daughter of Squire James and Abi- gail (Richardson) Johnson. The former will be remembered by older residents as old Squire Johnson, he having served for nearly half a century as a justice of the peace. He had settled in Wayne township, Knox coun- ty, in 1813, and often spoke of seeing the wreckage along the shores of Lake Erie after the memorable conquest of Commo- dore Perry. Much of their midde life was passed in the home of their only surviving child, Mrs. Caywood, and here both passed
to their final reward, aged seventy-two and seventy-six years, respectively.
Mr. and Mrs. Caywood began their do- mestic life on a farm in this township, and as the years have passed prosperity has followed their efforts so that they are now the own- ers of one hundred and fifty acres of land in the Ewers' homestead and another tract of one hundred and eleven acres elsewhere in the township, a part of the old Caywood tract. In connection with the product of the cereals best adapted to the soil and cli- mate he is also engaged in stock raising and makes a specialty of the breeding of Polled Durham cattle, having a choice herd of about forty head at the present time. The Kokos- ing herd of this superior breed of cattle is widely and favorably known among breed- ers, and many excellent animals having gone from its pastures to assist in the general improvement of the country's live stock. Mr. Caywood has been a director of the Ameri- can Polled Durham Association since its organization. His practical wife has proved a valuable coadjutor in all matters pertain- ing to the conduct of the farm, rendering special valuable assistance in matters of cor- respondence. She attended the old log school house, later walking two miles to Fredericktown and finally engaged as a teacher, though her inclinations were more of a domestic nature and she has found a congenial atmosphere in the environments of the home.
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