USA > Ohio > Fulton County > The County of Fulton: A History of Fulton County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, with Special Chapters on Various Subjects, Including Each of the Different Townships; Also a Biographical Department. > Part 53
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until 1837, his wife having died in 1836. He then sold his farm, and in September, 1837, with a large company of relatives, came to Clin- ton township, Fulton county, this section then being a part of Lucas county, and here he passed the residue of his life. He was a black- smith by trade, and for a number of years had a shop in this county. He was the first justice of the peace in Clinton township, which was organized in 1838. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, served the public in different capacities, and he was an especial friend of the poor. He was' an active Christian from young man- hood, being a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose faith he passed to his final reward. He was always found doing good, ever counseling the adjusting of difficulties between his neighbors without recourse to law, and he was humanity's friend at all times, ever holding the respect and confidence of all who knew him. Margaret (Bayes) Mikesell, daughter of the honored pioneer just mentioned, was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1811, and accompanied her parents on their removal to Holmes county, Ohio, where on the 23d of May, 1833, she was united in marriage to William Mikesell. She proved a faithful helpmeet, a kind and loving mother, and was a gentle and faithful Christian. She knew the trials, labors and hardships of pioneer life, but hers was the faith that made faithful in all things and her life was one of signal purity and grace. Her health began to fail about 1851, and after much suf- fering from cancer she passed away on the 4th of December, 1855. Thomas Mikesell, son of William and Margaret (Bayes) Mikesell, was born on the homestead farm, one mile north of the present city of Wauseon, on the 9th of August, 1845, and this farm continued to be his home until 1902, when he sold the property and removed to Wauseon, where he has since lived practically retired. He attended the district school until he was thirteen years old, and thereafter he found amplified advantages in the high school at Wauseon, attending the same during several winter terms, assisting in the work of the farm during the summer months. In June, 1863, Mr. Mikesell en- listed in Company H, Eighty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, for a term of six months, serving until February 10, '1864, when he re- ceived his honorable discharge. His command assisted in the pur- suit of Morgan during his historic raid through Ohio, in July, 1863; and in the expedition, under General DeCourcey, which resulted in the capture of Cumberland Gap, Kentucky, September 9, 1863. Within his term Mr. Mikesell was detailed and served as fifer of his company. He taught school in his home district during the winter of 1866-7, and the next winter was similarly engaged in Kosciusko county, Indiana. In the autumn of 1868 he went to Jasper county, Iowa, where he taught school that winter, after which he taught a three months' summer school in Sullivan county, Missouri. Return- ing to the old homestead in the autumn of 1869, he worked on the farm and also taught school during the ensuing two winters. In 1872 he was identified with the operation of a photographic business in Wauseon, after which he returned to the farm. In 1865 Mr. Mikesell began the study of meteorology, and since November, 1869,
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he has kept a systematic record of the weather conditions. In Octo- ber, 1882, when the Ohio Meteorological Bureau was organized, he was appointed one of the observers, and has ever since continued to make reports to Columbus and Washington. In 1902 he was ap- pointed special observer of the corn and wheat region service, and has reported by telegraph each day, from April Ist to September 30th, each year. In connection with the weather observations he has made phrenological observations for many years, these. records being very interesting as showing the effect of climate on vegetable growth. In 1875 Mr. Mikesell began the systematic study of the birds of this region, and since 1883 he has kept a record of their habits and of the dates of arrival and departure of the migratory species, and of the relative numbers each year. A summary and discussion of these observations, by Professor J. Warren Smith, was published in 1904 by the United States Weather Bureau. In 1887 Mr. Mikesell was elected secretary of the Fulton County Pioneer and Historical Association, serving in that capacity until 1895, and he has taken much interest in preserving the early historical data of the county. In 1889 he was chosen secretary of the Fulton County Agricultural Society, retaining this incumbency sixteen consecu- tive years. He has seen the county fair grow from a representation of about fourteen hundred and fifty entries, in 1889, to more than thirty-three hundred, in 1904, and the amount of premiums paid from less than seven hundred to more than twenty-five hundred dollars. In politics Mr. Mikesell is a Republican, he is affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, and both he and his wife are zealous and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been an official since 1887, having been secretary of the offi- cial board of the Wauseon church from that year to the present, and he has been treasurer of the board of stewards since 1894. It may be said that in his special studies and observations his purpose has been to increase the sum total of knowledge concerning nature and nat- ural phenomena. November 23, 1873, Mr. Mikesell was united in marriage to Miss Martha Herriman, who was born near Ottokee, Fulton county, Ohio, April 21, 1850, being a daughter of John and Lettie (Wood) Herriman. She was about six years of age at the time of her mother's death, and was reared in the home of Thomas J. Case. There have not been any children born to this marriage.
HECTOR L. MILES, proprietor of a saw-mill and lumber busi- ness at Delta, was born in Norwalk, Ohio, August 2, 1852. He.is a descendant of a family that has long been established in America, the ancestral farm being located between Lockport and Buffalo, where the Miles' ancestors were very early settlers. He is the son of David T. and Mary (Lee) Miles, both natives of New York State. David Miles removed with his parents to the vicinity of Norwalk when a lad of thirteen years, married at Brownhelm, Erie county, O., and located on a farm near Norfolk. Then he removed to Fulton county, about 1865, locating on a farm in the northern part of the county. After a residence of seven years here he removed to Clyde,
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O., and three years later to Williams county, where his wife died. Since her death he has been making his home with his children, and is now living at Delta. There were four sons in this family: Fitch, the eldest, who died at the age of eighteen years; Hector L .; Lewis L., a coal and feed dealer of Delta, and Llewellyn, an electrician at the Spitzer building, Toledo, where he has been employed for a num- ber of years. Hector L. Miles was educated at Clyde and took a business course at Adrian, Mich. He began his business career as a clerk in a dry-goods store in Clyde, where he was employed for three years. Then he embarked in the grocery and notion business in Delta and conducted it very successfully for four years. While he was thus employed he was married, his wife owning an interest in the business in which he now embarked. His partner was A. A. Dumar, whose interest Mr. Miles purchased after three years. Since his purchase of the plant Mr. Miles has greatly enlarged it, conduct- ing for a number of years a brick and tile factory in connection with it. This was subsequently sold, and a general line of lumber and building material, including lime and cement, was added. The plant, which gives employment to an average of ten men, includes a com- plete planing-mill outfit and does a general custom work besides a large amount of general work in sawing. In politics he is identified with the Republican party, having held the offices of councilman and school director in Delta. Being at earnest advocate of the tem- perance cause, he desires the supremacy of the principles of the Pro- hibitionists. Together with his wife he is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and takes a deep interest in religious and temperance work, serving at this time as treasurer of the official board of the church. He is a member of Fulton Lodge, No. 248, Free and Accepted Masons, Octavius Waters Chapter, No. 154, Royal Arch Masons, and of the M. W. of A. On November 13, 1879, he was wedded to Mrs. Van Fleet, a widow, whose maiden name was Louisa M. Griffin. Two sons by this union are living. They are: Roy H., who is in the employ of his father, and Dorr L., a carpenter and joiner. Both live at home. An only daughter, Bessie by name, died at the age of nine years.
DAVID R. MILEY is one of the prominent farmers of Clinton township, and has passed his entire life in Fulton county, being a member of one of its well-known and highly-honored pioneer fam- ilies. He was born in Clinton township, February 13, 1853, being a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Goodrich) Miley. He was reared on the home farm, and after attending the district schools continued his studies in the public schools of Wauseon and Bryan. He has de- voted his life to agricultural pursuits, bringing to bear marked energy and good judgment and thus gaining success through his operations. His present farm has been his home since 1874, and comprises sixty acres of most productive land, in Clinton township, and the perma- nent improvements are of excellent order, including an attractive farm residence. In political matters he is a socialist, and is a man of well-fortified opinions as to matters of public policy. He and his
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wife are members of the Christian church. In 1873 Mr. Miley was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Doyle, who was born in Toledo, Ohio, August 5, 1851, being a daughter of Charles W. and Deborah (Clayton) Doyle, who removed from the Empire State to Toledo; Ohio, where the mother died. Mr. Doyle passed the closing years of his life in Chicago, where he died in 1899, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Miley. have six children, whose names, with respective dates of birth, are as follows: Blanche, No- vember 2, 1876; Leona, May 24, 1878; Encil L., May 4, 1881; Mand E., December 2, 1882; Grace, March 21, 1885; and Mabel M., Janu- ary 14, 1886. The original American progenitor of the Miley family was John Miley, who was born in Germany, September 14, 1784. His father was a man in most modest circumstances, but was possessed of that sturdy integrity of character which has denoted those of the name in the succeeding generations. In company with his father and one brother, John Miley immigrated to America, believing that here could be found better opportunities for gaining independence through personal effort. They were unable to provide money for the payment of their passage on the ocean, and thus came with the un- derstanding that upon their arrival in the new world the owners of the vessel on which they sailed would be permitted to sell their serv- ices to the highest bidders, thus gaining recompense for the cost of passage. John thus was sold to a man in Philadelphia, Pa., serving in the capacity of hostler until he had paid the amount for which he had been bound, and thereafter being retained in the employ of the same man for a few years. He finally married Miss Eva Margaretha Schuler, who was descended from noble stock in Germany, but who was born in Pennsylvania. Her marriage to John Miley was sol- emnized in Lancaster county, -Pa., in 1811. By good management Mr. Miley secured a tract of land in the Chestnut Ridge district of Pennsylvania, later disposing of this property and removing to the Ligonier valley of Pennsylvania, whence he came to Ohio, first set- tling in Columbiana county and later removing to Holmes county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, develop- ing a good farm and there passing the remainder of his life, his death occurring September 15, 1845. ' His widow survived him by many years. She was born November 23, 1784, and died, on the home farm last mentioned, December 10, 1870. They became the par- ents of eight children, namely: John : (2d), born in Lancaster county, Pa., May 30, 1812; Jacob, born in Lancaster county, July 4, 1814; George, born in the same county, December 12, 1816; Rachel, born in Westmoreland county, Pa., February 14, 1819; Mat- thias, born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 21, 1821; David, born in the same county, December 4, 1824; Levi, born in same county, February 5, 1828; and Jesse, born in the same county, March 14,- 1830. All of the children attained maturity, married and reared children, all continued identified with the farming industry and all left the heritage of worthy lives and worthy deeds to posterity. John Miley (2d), is one of the sterling pioneer citizens of Fulton county. August 15, 1837, he married Elizabeth Peterson, and they became
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the parents of five children,-Henry, Thomas, William C., Jacob, and Margaret E. Jacob, second son of John Miley (Ist), settled in Ful- ton county at a time when it was still practically a wilderness, com- ing here from Holmes county. He was thrice married, first to Delilah Wells, second to Sarah Berry and third to Elizabeth Good- rich, two children being born of the third marriage,-David and Rhoda Josephine. George Miley also came to this county in the pioneer days. He married Letitia Wells, March 21, 1839, and they became the parents of these children: Jesse, Benjamin, William B., Mary E. (deceased), Rufus (deceased), and Levi. Rachel Miley, on the 26th of January, 1837, married William McConkey, who died in 1847. Four children were born to them,-Levi, Margaret (deceased), Adaline (deceased), and Isaiah. July 21, 1853, Mrs. Rachel McConkey married James Wells, and they became the parents of two daughters, Rachel and Sophronia. Mr. and Mrs. Wells were likewise early set-, tlers in Fulton county. Matthias Miley also came to this county in an early day. He married Delilah Cramer, and they became the parents of eleven children,-Josephine (deceased), Catherine, Rachel, Elizabeth, Harvey, George, Mary, Eli, Delilah, and Elmina (de- ceased). After the death of his first wife Matthias Miley married Catherine Garrett, September 20, 1868, and they became the parents of one child, Amos. After the death of his father David Miley located on the old home farm in Holmes county, and, with his brother Levi, gradually purchased the interests of the other heirs, the two brothers becoming the sole owners of the farm, while their mother lived with them until her death. David married Elizabeth Garrett, November 27, 1849, and they became the parents of four sons,-Harmon, Amos (deceased), Lewis, and Elias. Levi Miley first married Isabelle Mc- Farland, who died January 4, 1861, having borne four daughters,- Sarah E., Eliza, Emma L. (deceased), and Jennie. His second mar- riage was with Eliza Garrett, March 2, 1862, and they became the parents of three chlidren,-Belinda, Florence (deceased), Leonard S., and Adaline Margaret. Jesse Miley also came to Fulton county, but later removed to Iowa, where he died. May 27, 1852, he married Jane Evans, and their children are Mattie A., Alverda J., Maggie L., Oliver B., and Levi J.
THOMAS MILEY merits recognition in this history by reason of his prominence as one of the representative farmers of Fulton county and also by reason of the fact that he is one of those who rep- resented the county in the Union ranks during the Civil war. He is the owner of a well improved farm of fifty-five acres, in Clinton township. Mr. Miley was born in Holmes county, O., on the 16th of December, 1841, and is thus a member of one of the pioneer families of that section. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Peterson) Miley, the former of whom was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., in which State his wife also was born. They came from Holmes county to Ful- ton county in 1847, and located on a farm in the midst of the forests of Clinton township, where the father developed a productive place, being one of the honored citizens of the community. He died on the
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20th of February, 1892, and his wife passed to the life eternal March 28, 1903. The father of John Miley was a native of Germany, whence he came to America in an early day, locating in Pennsylvania, where he became a prosperous farmer. Concerning his children it may be recorded that Rachel is the wife of James Wells (deceased), and re- sides in Wauseon; Jacob is deceased; Matthias died February 10, 1905; David died in 1903; Levi also is deceased; George is a resident of Spring Hill, this county; Jesse died in Illinois; and John was the father of the subject of this review. The following data are entered in regard to the children of John Miley: Henry, born in 1837, is a resident of Swan Creek township; Thomas is the immediate subject of this review ; William C., born in 1844, is a farmer west of Wauseon; Jacob M., born in 1850, resides in Wauseon; Margaret, born in 1852, is the wife of Peter Fister, of Toledo. Thomas Miley was about six years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Fulton county, where he was reared to manhood on the home farm, and his early educational advantages were those afforded by the common schools. He has always been identified with agricultural pursuits and has owned and operated his present attractive farm since 1867. In 1863 Mr. Miley tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio volunteer in- fantry, with which he served until the close of the war, taking part in many important engagements. In politics he is a stalwart Repub- lican, and has ever been loyal and public-spirited as a citizen. He served three years as township trustee and for twenty years as road supervisor. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church. In 1866 Mr. Miley was united in marriage to Miss Caroline. Doyle, who was born in New Jersey on the 22d of February, 1845, being a daughter of Charles W. and Deborah (Clayton) Doyle, who took up their residence in the city of Toledo, Ohio, in 1847, and who eventu- ally removed to Chicago, where the father died in September, 1900, his wife being also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Miley have four children: John C. is a successful farmer of Clinton township; Cora is the wife of Perry Lawrence, of Delta, this county; Myrtle is the wife of Lewis McCane, of Wauseon; and C. Arthur is associated with his father in the work of the home farm.
WILLIAM C. MILEY, a representative of one of the old and well known families of Fulton county, is a veteran of the Civil war, has held various offices in his community, and he is now the owner of a most attractive and well-improved little farm of forty- three acres, one mile west of the city of Wauseon: Mr. Miley was born in Holmes county, Ohio, on the 22d of January, 1842, being a son of John and Elizabeth (Peterson) Miley, both of whom were born in the State of Pennsylvania, and they were numbered among the pioneers of Holmes county, Ohio, where they remained until 1847, when they came to Fulton county, making the trip with team and wagon and locating on a tract of wild land in Clinton township. The father became one of the well-to-do farmers of the county, and
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here passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring February 20, 1892, and his wife passed away March 28, 1903. The father of John Miley was born and reared in Germany, and early came to America, settling in Pennsylvania. Concerning the children of John Miley the following is a brief record: Henry is a resident of Swan Creek township; Thomas is individually mentioned in the preceding review; William C. is the subject of this sketch; Jacob M. is a resi- dent of Wauseon; and Margaret is the wife of Peter Fister, of Toledo. William C. Miley was reared on the home farm, in Fulton county, and completed his youthful education in the common schools of Wau- seon. He has made farming his vocation through life and has re- sided on his present homestead since 1900, having previously been the owner of a farm in Chesterfield township, where he made his home about twenty-five years. In March, 1864, he enlisted in the Union service, becoming a private in Company E, One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer infantry, with which he served until the autumn of that year, when he received his honorable discharge. He is a member of the post of the Grand Army of the Republic in Wau- seon, and both he and his wife are devoted members of the Christian church. In politics Mr. Miley is a stanch Republican; he served four years as trustee of Chesterfield township, and he was clerk of the school board for the long period of fifteen years. In 1865 Mr. Miley was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Lightfoot, who bore him one son, Harry Mason Miley, who resides in Morenci, Michigan. The latter married Miss Ida Griggs and they have one son. In 1901 Mr. Miley consummated a second marriage, being then united to Lucinda Mikesell, who was born June 12, 1850, being a daughter of Adam and Polly (Jones) Mikesell. Her parents came to Fulton county, from Holmes county, in 1846, and her father conducted a lit- tle general store in his house before the present city of Wauseon had any buildings to mark its site. Both he and his wife died in this county, his death having occurred in 1861, as the result of the rup- turing of a blood vessel.
CHRISTOPHER K. MILLER is one of the successful farmers of Gorham township, where he has a well-improved homestead of ninety acres, clear of incumbrance and acquired through his own well-di- rected efforts. He was born in Brady township, Williams county, Ohio, January 14, 1858, and is a son of Adam and Melvina (Green) Miller. The father was born in Richland county, Ohio, being a son of Peter Miller, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, whence he and his wife came to Ohio in the pioneer days, here passing the remainder of their lives, having located in Richland county prior to 1825. Adam Miller was reared and educated in Richland county, being one of a large family of children, all of whom were natives of said county. At the age of fourteen years he initiated his independent career, removing to Fort Wayne, Ind., and about seven years later he located in Williams county, Ohio, where his marriage was sol- emnized, his wife having been born and reared in Medina county; where her parents were early settlers, her father being of Scotch an-
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cestry. Adam Miller was the owner of a good farm in Williams county at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war, and, preparatory to going forth in defense of the Union, he sold his farm. He then enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he went to the front. In the battle of Franklin, Tenn., he received a scalp wound, which incapacitated him for a time, but after recuperating he rejoined his regiment, with which he con- tinued in service until the close of the war, having been with Sher- man's forces on the ever-memorable march from Atlanta to the sea, and having taken part in a number of the most important battles of the great internecine conflict. After the close of his military career he returned to Williams county, where he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1885, when he removed to Michigan, both he and his wife being now resident of Frontier, Hillsdale county, that 'State, where he is living practically retired, being seventy-seven years of age, in 1905. He and wife became the parents of ten chil- dren, concerning whom the following brief record is entered: Jane is the wife of George Finch, of Owosso, Mich .; Ellen is the wife of Samuel Wasnich, of Frontier, Mich .; Christopher K. is the imme- diate subject of this sketch; Wealthy Ann is deceased; Martha is de- ceased; Etta is the wife of Byron Miller, of Frontier, Mich .; Emma, deceased; Della, deceased; William. B. resides in Frontier, Mich .; and Orpha is the wife of Edward Hukill, of the same village. Chris- topher K. Miller was reared and educated in Williams county, and as a boy entered upon an apprenticeship at the brick-layer's trade, to which he devoted his attention until his marriage. He then rented land in Gorham township, Fulton county, where he was engaged in farming for the ensuing five years, at the expiration of which, in 1885, he purchased eighty acres of his present farm, going into debt for the property, to which he has since added ten acres; and by energy and good management he has cleared the place from indebtedness, has made excellent improvement and gained a position among the substantial farmers and representative citizens of the township. He is a Republican in his political proclivities and has been called upon to serve in various local offices, and in a fraternal way he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On the 19th of July, 1880, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Alice Ritter, born January 27, 1860, in Gorham township, and she is the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Barr) Ritter, of Gorham township. Her par- ents were born in Seneca county, N. Y., and were numbered among the honored pioneers of Gorham township, where the father died in 1893, at the age of sixty-four years, his wife passing away in 1901, at the age of seventy-three years. They reared a family of four daughters and one son, all of whom are living. They are: Matilda, who is the wife of George A. Cottner, and resides in Gorham township; Elnora, who is the wife of Fred Feill and resides in Gorham town- ship; Alice, wife of the subject of this sketch; Carlton, who married Miss Clara Reed, and he resides in Onsted, Mich., and the youngest child is Della, who married William. L. Moray and are residents of Gorham township. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two children : Elta M.,
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