The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 83

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 83

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JOHN E. LUCAS, farmer ; P. O. Piqua. Mr. Lucas is a native of Virginia; is a son of Basil and Aphariba (Mussetter) Lucas ; they came from Virginia to Ohio in 1836, and located in Clinton Co., from which they removed to Greene Co., and came to Miami Co. in 1860, purchased 265 acres of land, known as the Towns- ley farm, which has since been added, till now the farm contains 316 acres, in an advanced state of cultivation, with good buildings and a nice gravel drive to the house, situated about a half-mile distant from the pike ; Mr. Basil Lucas, now in

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his 74th year, retired from active labor about twenty years since, and the farm is carried on by John E. and his brother Thornton H. ; Mrs. Lucas' decease occurred in Greene Co .; she left four children-James W. (a resident of Michigan), the two brothers above mentioned, and Emma ; upon the latter, the care of the house has devolved since the death of her mother.

JAMES McMAKEN, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1824 ; is the son of John and Lydia (Catterlin) McMaken, he being a native of Ken- tucky, and she of Virginia ; they were parents of ten children, viz., James, John, . Ewing (deceased), Wilson, George, Martha, Ann (now living) ; the grandfather (John) on his father's side, was also born in Kentucky, and the grandfather on the mother's side (Joseph) was born in Virginia ; John and Lydia, the parents, came to Miami Co., Ohio, and located in Newberry Township, four miles west of Piqua, in 1832, November 24, and opened out right in the woods, there being only four houses between them and Piqua ; here they labored, cleared up the land, built their houses and endured all the hardships of pioneer life, amid the howling of wolves and wild beasts ; he lived to shoot the last wolf and the last deer that was killed or seen in that neighborhood ; he lived and died on the same farm, dying in the fall of 1872 ; his wife is still living, about 80 years of age. Mr. McMaken, our subject, lived with his father till about 23 years of age. In 1847, he was united in marriage with Adeline Rike, daughter of John and Catharine Rike, who were natives of Maryland, but came to Ohio at quite an early day ; by this union they had eleven children, seven of whom are living, viz., Marion, Bell, James; Addie, Clara, Alice, Walter Scott and Lydia Catharine ; after their marriage they lived with his father about one year; then lived on rented farms about five years ; bought 80 acres of land about three miles west of Piqua, where they lived one and a half years, then sold and bought 160 acres in Newberry Township, where they lived about eight and a half years ; finally, sold, and bought 83 acres in Washington Town- ship, where he now lives ; he has continued to labor here, improving and econo- mizing, till now he owns 235 acres of land, besides some property in Piqua ; has erected several buildings on his land, and now has everything comfortable and convenient where he lives ; this has all been accomplished by close application to business, industry and economy having been his mottoes ; starting in life with no means, and now possessed of a competency for the balance of his life.

MRS. MARGARET MoWILLIAMS ; P. O. Piqua ; daughter of Absalom and Amelia (Israel) Martin. Mr. Martin was a Captain under Gen. Wayne, and remem- bering the attractions of the Miami Valley, sought a home here ; they came to Miami Co. about 1839, and resided near Piqua until their decease. The subject of this sketch was born near Martin's Ferry, Ohio, April 8, 1808. Was married there to Samuel McWilliams, Feb. 3, 1823 ; they removed to Wayne Co. about 1830, and came to this county about 1840. Mr. McWilliams was born near Martin's Ferry Aug. 4, 1805 ; he was a miller, and followed milling a short time; then boated several years, after which he was for many years engaged in buying, im- proving, renting and selling residence property in Piqua ; his decease occurred here, March 14, 1880 ; Mrs. McWilliams survives him ; her residence is on the corner of High street and Broadway, where a married granddaughter, with two great-grandchildren, reside under the same roof with her.

CONRAD MAY, proprietor hotel ; P. O. Piqua ; is a native of Germany, born in Hessen in 1830 ; came to the United States in 1847, and to Miami Co. in 1848; Mr. May came to Troy a poor boy, and by industry and economy has steadily grown to an important citizen ; he commenced work near Troy in the fall of 1848, as a field hand husking corn by the day, and in the following spring commenced work on the Knoop farm, where, in 1849, he bound the first sheaf of grain cut by a reaping machine in Miami Co .; he continued to work on this place for seven suc- cessive years ; in September, 1856, he engaged in the grocery business in Troy, which he continued until 1869, when he sold out and removed to Piqua, where he had an interest in a retail drug store, the firm being May Brothers ; in 1873, he purchased his brother's interest and continued the business until November, 1879 ;

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in 1877, he purchased the Leland House property and conducted the hotel until August, 1879, when he sold the furniture, etc., and rented the house, hoping to be released from business, but, the parties having the hotel rented failing, he was com- pelled to again take charge of the house, and is now " mine host" of the Leland ; thus, he has risen from a farm hand to a good position, able to live at his leisure if he desires, and is one of the substantial men of Piqua; the hotel property consists of a lot ninety-one feet front on Main street, and 165 feet on Water street ; the Leland House is a three-story brick structure, ninety-one feet front on Main street and 120 feet front on Water ; he also has a livery stable fronting on Water street, and owns a handsome residence on Water street, about three squares west from the hotel. He married, April 8, 1858, Francisca Henne, sister of Joseph Henne, of Troy ; the fruits of this union have been twelve children, eight of whom survive; the three last born were triplets, and all died in infancy ; his oldest son is now a student of medicine at Philadelphia.

H. H. MEINDERS, grocer, Piqua. Piqua, like all cities of its size, is repre- sented with nearly every branch of business. H. H. Meinders is a native of Hanover, Germany, born July 25, 1841, and is a son of George and Harmten Meinders, both natives of the same country, where George died and she now sur- vives ; their children were twelve in number, of whom six are now living, our sub- ject being the youngest son ; he was raised to European farm life, where he obtained his education ; in 1865, he emigrated to America, landing on the 2d of September in Cincinnati, engaging as farm laborer near the city two years ; he then came to Piqua ; after locating in this place he was variously engaged, among which we mention the employment in Cron & Co.'s furniture factory. His mar- riage was celebrated with Margaret Ehlers April 25, 1872; she was born in Germany Sept. 8, 1849 ; by this union they have three children-George, Edwin and Wesley ; Mrs. Meinders is a daughter of Jacob and Anna Ehlers.

W. B. MITCHELL, dealer in coal and wood, Piqua. Mr. Mitchell is a. native of Miami Co., having been born in Washington Township in 1817 ; he is & son of William Mitchell, who was a native of North Carolina and pioneer of this County, having removed from Tennessee to Ohio in 1806 ; he came to Miami Co. in the following year and settled in Washington Township, where he continued to reside until his decease, which occurred in 1857, he being in the 80th year of his age; his wife, who was a McCorckle, and a native of North Carolina, died about two years previous ; they had a family of seven children-Moses G., Joseph M., Mar- garet, Samuel S., Mary, Caroline P. and W. B .; W. B. and a sister who lives at St. Mary's are the only survivors ; the McCorckles came to Miami Co. in 1806; there was quite a large family of them, but all are now dead ; Martha McCorckle was the wife of Benjamin Level ; their license was obtained at Dayton, and this mar- riage was the first one celebrated within the bounds of Miami Co. after the county was organized ; Mr. Mitchell comes of pioneer stock ; his grandfather Mitchell was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and served seven years, being at home but once during that time ; his wife was a Grant ; two of her brothers were killed in an engagement between a company of Kentucky frontiersmen, to which they be- longed and a body of Indians who had committed some depredations in Kentucky and were followed to Hamilton, Ohio ; during the Indian difficulty of 1812, Mr. Mitchell's father had a block-house on his farm, and was Captain of a company of " Home Guards " who were required to scout at least three days in each week ; two of the older boys were soldiers and both narrowly escaped capture by the Indians ; Moses G. was a recruiting officer here during the war of the rebellion, and Joseph, though upward of 60, was one of the "Squirrel Hunters " who went to Cincinnati to defend the city in 1863; the subject of this sketch has been a con- tinuous resident of Washington Township, with the exception of about twelve years, during which he was roving ; his early life was spent on the farm, and when he had grown to manhood, he continued to farm until about 1856, when he left the farm and came to Piqua and engaged in grain buying ; he built the warehouse which is now the property of E. Farrington and Slauson, and operated in grain,

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etc., several years ; in 1863, he took a notion to try the West, and tried the grocery trade in Wisconsin, milling in Indiana, and farmed in Kansas about six years ; he returned to Piqua in 1874 and soon after opened a wood and coal yard on West High street, which he is now conducting. He was married in 1835, to Miss Lu- cilla, daughter of Alexander McCullough, who was an early resident of Concord Township ; his decease occurred in 1857, he being in the 87th year of his age ; Mrs. Mitchell is also a native of this county ; they have a family of four children- Sarah J., now Mrs. Charles H. Hill, of Kansas ; Burton C., now book-keeper in the . First National Bank of Richmond, Ind .; Agnes M., a teacher ; and Elizabeth C., now Mrs. W. H. Vore, of Champaign Co.

DANIEL K. MOFFETT (deceased), farmer. Among the earliest pioneers of Miami Co. were the Moffett family ; they were natives of Virginia, and, while living there, Daniel's grandfather, George, and his older brother, John, were captured by the Indians when boys, from 10 to 14 years of age, and carried off into what was then called the Northwest; their father afterward settled in Kentucky ; he here entered into negotiations with the French traders to try and buy back his sons from the Indians; in the meantime, every effort was made through the military and other sources to recover the lost children ; at one time, the Indians were encamped at Piqua, with George in their possession, when Gen. Clarke, with a military force, came upon them by surprise and destroyed every- thing in their encampment, but the Indians effected their escape and carried George with them ; at the expiration of about two years from the time of his cap- ture, the French traders succeeded in buying him back, and took him home to his father ; John, the older son, was still in their possession, till, at the expiration of about six years, the traders, while at Detroit, succeeded in obtaining John, who was returned to his overjoyed parents; while in possession of the Indians, he was with Tecumseh, and, it appears, was adopted as one of his family, and it is really a wonder that they ever succeeded in buying him away from them; John, when returned to his parents, had become a young man, and was finally one of the pio- neers of Miami Co., locating on the land now in the corporation of Piqua, where he lived and died; George also came and located at Piqua, entered the east half of Sec. 11, about two miles west of Piqua, where he lived and died. James D. Moffett, his son, and father of Daniel, our subject, was born in Woodford Co., Ky., Feb. 17, 1798, and, when a small boy, came with his father to Miami Co .; here he grew up to manhood, under the sturdy influences of pioneer life, and, on Nov. 1, 1825, was united in marriage with Elizabeth J. Keyt, who was born in New Jersey July 4, 1799, and was among the early settlers of this county ; after a few years of married life, death came and bereft him of his loved companion ; Nov. 28, 1837, he was married to Elvira Adams. Daniel K. Moffett, the subject of our sketch, and son of James D. Moffett, was born on the home farm in Wash- ington Township, Aug. 20, 1826; he lived with his father till his death, which occurred when he was about 21 years of age, and, at this time, being the eldest son, he took charge of the family and farm; he was united in marriage in Sep- tember, 1864, with Mary A. Bennett, daughter of Enoch and Margaret (Withgott) Bennett; by this union they had born to them two children, viz. : Fletcher Scott and Margaret Elizabeth ; Mr. Moffett continued on the home place till his death, which occurred March 25, 1879. Although not of advanced age, yet that terrible destroyer, consumption, had marked him for its victim, and death finished the work when he was only about 52 years of age; but his life and character were such as to ever be cherished in the memory of his family, friends and neighbors ; he was diligent in business, honest in all his dealings, with commendable public spirit, and uniform sympathy and kindness.

ISAAC S. MORRIS, Editor Miami Helmet, Piqua ; son of John and Ruth Morris ; was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, Feb. 7, 1825, and was brought up as a farmer, having such opportunities of education as were offered at that time by the district school. Graduated at Farmers' College in the year 1850. Married to Edith T. Jenkins, daughter of Jacob and Hannah Jenkins, of Clinton Co., Oct. 16

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1851 ; was Superintendent of the Public Schools of Eaton, Ohio, from 1853 to 1860; editor of the Eaton Register from Jan. 1, 1861, to Jan. 1, 1874 ; and editor of the Miami Helmet since August, 1874. Mr. Morris has three children, two daughters and a son ; the former are graduates of the high school, one, being also a graduate of the Wesleyan Female College of Delaware, is assistant teacher in the Piqua High School.

WILSON MORROW, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, 1817 ; is a son of John and Mary (Robison) Morrow. Our subject is a nephew to the late Gov. Morrow, of Ohio, whose name is prominently known in the State history. Wilson grew to manhood, in his native county, as a farmer's son. In 1842, he married Rebecca Morrow, born in Adams Co., Penn., Feb. 17, 1822. Soon after their marriage, they located in Shelby Co., Ohio, on their farm, consist- ing of 160 acres of unbroken forest. They spent a quarter of a century on their property, during which time it was taken to a good degree of cultivation and im- provement. In 1868, he sold out, and purchased his present lot, of 5 acres in the Third Ward of Piqua, where he is finely situated, with all the conveniences neces- sary ; the following year he purchased 122 acres in Sec. 22, Washington Township, Miami Co .; this has since been cultivated by renters, but frequently receives his supervision. Mr. and Mrs Morrow have had born to them one child, Mary M. E., June 16, 1864.

ANDREW M. MORROW, farmer ; P. O. Piqua ; born on the farm where he now resides, Nov. 17, 1833 ; is a son of Richard and Frances (Clark) Morrow, natives of Pennsylvania, who were united in marriage July 5, 1814, and, in the fall of the same year, moved first to Highland Co., Ohio; thence in spring of 1815, to Miami Co., and settled on a quarter-section of land three miles south of Piqua; the country was then an almost unbroken forest. In the summer of 1817, they erected a double log house with a two-story front, which they occupied on the 20th of December ; upon this homestead they spent the remainder of their lives, with the exception of a five years' residence in Piqua, returning to the farm in 1861. Mr. Morrow was a millwright in his youth, but after his settlement in Ohio, he devoted his life to agriculture. Their married life covered a period of half a cen- tury. He died May 28, 1864, 76 years of age; and she on the 12th of August, of the same year, aged 75 years. They were the parents of seven children-Joseph M., born March 11, 1815, who was killed by the fall of a roof-pole from the house on the farm of Judge Adams, two and one-half miles south of Piqua ; Robert A., born April 11, 1818, died Nov. 19, 1846; Hugh C., born Oct. 9, 1820, died Sept. 5, 1874 ; James, born Dec. 20, 1822 ; Milton, born Feb. 14, 1825 ; William, born July 31, 1828 and Andrew M. Mr. Morrow was one of the early pioneers, and endured his share of their hardships ; was prominent and active in that early day in the organization of the schools, churches and public enterprises of that period, being one of the organizers of one of the first churches of Piqua. He was Colonel and Major of the militia, and was generally designated as Maj. Morrow; was Township Trustee for many years, also County Commissioner for several years. He and wife were members of the Presbyterian Church for the greater period of their lives. Our subject has always resided upon the old home place, and married, April 8, 1858, Eliza E., daughter of Daniel and Margaret Drake; they had three children- Ella Frances, born May 16, 1860; Margaret Caroline, born May 14, 1862, and Har- land D., born Sept. 5, 1873. Mrs. Morrow died Oct. 30, 1873. Dec. 27, 1876, Mr. Morrow was married to Olive L., daughter of James and Sarah Ann (Parker) Den- nis, he a native of Ohio, and she of New Jersey; issue, two children-Clifton P., born Oct. 28, 1877, and Eliza D., born Oct. 14, 1879. Mr. Morrow and wife, like their parents before them, are faithful members of the Presbyterian Church. They have a fine farm of 136 acres of land, with good improvements, constituting a very pleasant home and farmer's residence.

FRANCIS L. MORROW, deceased ; a son of John Morrow, an early resident of Washington Township, and related to the Johnstons and Scotts, of Piqua; was born on the farm in Washington Township Oct. 14, 1818; when about 14 years

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of age, he entered the store of William Scott, and afterward was given an interest, in lieu of salary. In 1843, he married Miss Mercy, daughter of Samuel and Han- nan (West) Winner, who were residents of the vicinity of Piqua; in 1844, he retired from the partnership with Mr. Scott, and established a dry-goods store, which he continued to operate, sometimes with partners, until 1873, when he, with many others, was crushed by the financial pressure of that year; after this, he was occupied in different pursuits until his decease, which occurred Jan. 15, 1877 ; he was an active, enterprising, useful citizen, often called to fill official positions of trust ; · his wife and four children-John, Fanny L., Walter J. and Stephen J .- survived him, and are still an undivided household ; the residence is a handsome property, richly furnished, situated on Caldwell street, between North and Greene streets ; Mrs. Morrow is a native of Warren Co., Ohio, and an intelligent, cultured lady.

JAMES MORRIN, farmer; P. O. Piqua; born in Washington Co., Penn., in 1809; is the son of William and Elizabeth Morrin, he being a native of Ireland, and coming to this country in an early day ; they immigrated to this county on the 9th day of April, 1821, and located at Piqua, where he followed farming for about seven years, when he bought the farm now owned by Mr. Howell, on Sec. 35 in Washington Township, where he lived and died, being thrown from a horse and killed in September, 1839. James Morrin, the subject of our sketch, lived with his father till his majority, when he started out in the world for himself ; he worked by the month at various places for about eight years, when he bought 80 acres adjoining his father's home place, on Sec. 35. He was united in marriage with Nancy Morrow, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Macklen) Morrow, who were both natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio at an early day, locating first near Cincinnati, where they lived several years, then in Montgomery Co., and, after a time, came from there into Miami Co., where they lived and died ; by this union they had ten children, and all are now living, viz., William M., who is mar- ried, and lives in Pennsylvania ; Thomas D., who married, and lives in California; George W., married, and lives in Colorado; James M., married, and lives in Kan- sas ; Agnes S., single, and living at home ; John W. and Daniel L., single, and also in Colorado ; Barton R., single, and with his brother William in Pennsylvania; Mary F., single, and living at home; and Watson E., single, and also living at home. Mr. Morrin, when he located on his land forty-two years ago, commenced right in the woods, except a very little opening of about 4 acres ; he started out in pioneer style, built his log cabin, in which he lived several years, toiling on from year to year, clearing up the land and making such improvements as time and means would permit; finally adding more land, by purchase, to his farm, till now he has 140 acres, a large brick house, good barn, other buildings for convenience and comfort, and all made by his own industry and economy ; he has, in connec- tion with all this labor, assisted his neighbors in their log-rollings, and raising their log houses, in all directions around him ; but now he can sit in peace and comfort, " under his own vine and fig-tree," which has been well earned ; he and his wife have been members of the Church of Christ for forty years.

R. MANARD MURRAY, manufacturer, Piqua ; born in Concord, Lake Co., Ohio, Nov. 28, 1841 ; is the son of Robert Murray, who for many years was engaged in purchasing cattle on a large scale and sending them East for sale. His mother, Sophronia (Parmalee) Murray, came to Ohio from Otisco, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and was descended from old Puritan stock. Her parents emigrated from Connecticut to the State of New York, prior to removing to Ohio. The subject of this sketch received the usual elementary training afforded by the district schools, and, when about 14 years of age, entered an academy at Kirtland, where he remained about one year ; he then became a student at a Methodist institution at Willoughby, Ohio, and in 1857, went to Oberlin College, where he spent two years, not taking a regular course, but selected his studies ; on leaving Oberlin, he attended the Law College at Cleveland, conducted by Judge Hadyn, graduated, and was admit- ted to the bar. On the outbreak of the rebellion, he enlisted in the 100-day serv- ice ; returning to Cleveland, he entered the law office of Ranney, Backus & Noble.

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In 1864, he enlisted in the 100-day service, and became a member of the 150th 0. N. G., who garrisoned the forts about Washington, and participated in the fight before Washington, with a part of Early's rebel corps, July 10 and 11, 1864. After returning from the service, he engaged in the cattle trade in Iowa, remaining there, however, only one year, then returned to Ohio, and became collector for the First National Bank, at Painesville ; in October, 1867, he became book-keeper, and in January, 1871, was elected Cashier. He was a member of the School Board of Painesville three years, and Treasurer of its funds four years. In the spring of 1878, he was elected Mayor, was also at the same time executor of a large estate, and, in addition to these public financial and fiduciary duties, he owned a farm of 100 acres which daily received his supervision. Feb. 1, 1879, he resigned his position in the bank, and arranged his financial affairs with a view to removing to Piqua, for the purpose of engaging in the enterprise known as the Piqua Handle and Manufacturing Co. Having formed a partnership with Mr. O. D. Gray, who had previously been interested in a like enterprise, in Wattsburg, Penn., they com- menced business, Nov. 10, 1879, the style of the firm being Gray & Murray. The experience and ability of the firm assure the success of the enterprise; indeed, it has already become one of the substantial and important industries of Piqua. Mr. Murray is a well-informed and public-spirited citizen ; he is also an able speaker, and often called on at public and political gatherings; social and agreeable as a gentleman, courteous and affable in all business relations, and a royal entertainer at his home.

WILLIAM W. O'FERRALL, of the firm of John O'Ferrall & Co., proprietors of the Piqua Car and Agricultural Works, Piqua. Mr. O'Ferrall, born in 1836, is & son of Dr. John O'Ferrall, Sr., whose history is noticed in the early history of Piqua ; he is a native of Piqua, and has resided here all his life ; when a young man, he was engaged for a short time in the boot and shoe trade; in 1851, he became a constituent member of the firm of O'Ferrell, Daniels & Co. proprietors of the Piqua Car and Agricultural Works, and has been identified with all the history of these works since, most of his time being occupied in traveling in the interests of the company. He married, in 1859, Miss Mary E., daughter of C. Foreman ; they had one child, who died ; their residence is a handsome property near the north end of Main street.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 83

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051