The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 106

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 106

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MRS. ELIZABETH HARMON, P. O. Uhrichville, relict of the late Jona- than Harmon, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, September 19, 1819. Her parents, John and Mary Reider, were natives of Germany, whence they emigrated at an early day. She was married to Jonathan, son of Joseph and Catherine Harmon, both natives of Pennsylvania. She has had a family of six children, of whom three survive-John, married to Miss Sarah More, by which union there has been no issue. but they are rearing an adopted child; David (deceased), wbo died shortly after his return from the war of the re- bellion; Mary (deceased); Henry M., married to Miss Martha E. Parker; Rachel, wife of William McBarnes, Akron, Ohio; and an infant (deceased). Mr. Harmon left his widow with 100 acres of land, to which she has since added fifty acres. Her son William manages the farm, and he is busily occu- pied in improving it. Mrs. Harmon is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and although in the decline of her life, she is still full of energy and enterprise.

MRS. MARGARET HOUK, P. O. Stillwater, is a daughter of Aaron and Mary (Taylor) Salter, natives of Pennsylvania. Her parents emigrated to Ohio, about the year 1825 or 1826, and located near Akron, afterward removing to Tuscarawas County, and settling near Ubrichsville, where they lived for four years. They subsequently came to Stillwater, and here spent the remainder of their days. They had a family of ten children, nine daughters and one son. of whom six are now living-Emma, Diana, Mary, Esther, Elmira, and Margaret J, our subject. The latter was united in marriage, June 11, 1857,

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with Jacob Houk. He was the second son of Jacob and Percilla Houk, natives of Pennsylvania. He had twelve children by a previous marriage. By his second union there were three children, namely: Frank S., John and Charles G. Mr. Houk was a thorough farmer, and instructed his boys in that occu- pation. He died January 12, 1882. He at one time owned 160 acres of the home farm, which was sold, and subsequently bought by Mrs. Houk, who now carries on the farm with two sons, F. and C. One son, John, is agent and telegraph operator at Stillwater, Ohio. The farm is bottom land, and is lo- cated about seven miles distant from Uhrichsville, near the old Talbot Mill. This mill is owned by her nephew, George D. Brainerd, and is the old- est mill standing in the county, and is the largest water mill.

ISAAC HOUK, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, was born in Mill Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, March 9, 1828. He is a son of Jacob Houk, a native of Maryland, who was twice married; first to Elizabeth Cahill, by whom he had twelve children-an unnamed infant, Rebecca Priscilla and Jacob are deceased, also David, who died in the army; Lodac, Lucinda, Mary, William H., Henry, Elizabeth and Phillip. After the decease of his wife Elizabeth, he married Margaret Salter, by which union he had three children-Frank, John and Charles. He was five times elected County Commissioner, an office he filled with honor to himself and county. His second wife, whose biogra. phy appears elsewhere in this work, still survives him. Isaac, the subject of this sketch was married, September 3, 1857, to Miss Jemina, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Connel) Myers, of Harrison County, Ohio, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of this State. The children by this mar- riage are Llewellen, born May 30, 1858; Flora Ada, born December 21, 1859: Mary E., born February 19, 1862. Flora Ada was married, September 26, 1882, to Rev. Levi L. Fisher, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and son of Samuel Fisher, of Flushing, Ohio. Isaac Houk is a successful farmer of Rush Township, and owns 183 acres of good land, located within a mile of Stillwater Station, C. L. & W. Railroad. His farm is well-stocked, and his buildings are commodious. In politics, he is a Republican; with his family, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM H. HOUK, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, was born in Rush Town- ship, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, March 18, 1840. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Cahill) Houk, who came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in an early day, and settled in Gnadenhutten. They afterward removed to Rush Township, where Mr. Houk died January 13, 1882. He was twice married, having by his first wife, Elizabeth, eleven children, of whom seven are still living- Isaac, Philip, Henry; Lucinda, wife of Charles Wards; Mary, wife of R. Wal- lace; Elizabeth, wife of W. H. Westhover; and Rebecca, who died, leaving a family of four children. His second marriage was with Miss Margaret J. Salter, by whom there were three sons-Frank, John and Charles. The sub- ject of this sketch was married in 1871 to Miss Esther Latto (deceased), by which union there was one child, Jacob L. In October, 1879, our subject was married to Miss Etta, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Stromns) Morrow, of Union County, Ohio. Mrs. Houk was a member of a family of four children -Eddy; Mrs. Daisy Winters, of Hardin County, Ohio; Charles, married to Miss Martha Davis; and Simon. Mr. Houk has been Assessor of this town- ship; is a member of the Masonic order. He is the first man who imported French horses to this county, the importations being recorded in the National register. He has two of the finest horses in the State; he has had much ex- perience in buying, and is quite a connoisseur of horse flesh. He goes to France often, visits Paris, and has also traveled through Ireland. He owns a farm of 165 acres of land, located in the Stillwater Valley, of which farm one-third is hilly, the remainder good, tillable land. MM

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PHILIP G. HOUK, farmer, P. O. Tracy, was born in Rush Township, Tus- carawas Co., Ohio, June 3, 1846, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Cahill) Houk, both natives of Pennsylvania. His father was twice married, his second wife being Miss Margaret Salter, who is now a widow and resides on the home farm. Our subject formerly lived on a farm near Stillwater, but at the present time is residing in Newport. He was married, December 11, 1876, to Miss Tillie Bukey, to which union three children have been born -Lizzie Myrtle, Pearl and John Wallace. Our subject is a brother of Will- iam H. Houk, the first importer into the county of French horses. They are both first-class practical farmers.

DAVID W. KENNEDY, SR., farmer, P. O. Gnadenhutten, was born in Washington, D. C., Muy 11, 1805. He is a son of Mathew and Elizabeth (Hines) Kennedy, the former a native of Scotland, the latter of Germany. They had a family of seventeen children, seven of whom have survived-Na- poleon B., Retum M., David W., Ahia H., Thomas J., Christian and Daniel H. Mathew Kennedy, on emigrating to this country, settled near Georgetown, now taken in the city of Washington, D. C., and there kept a hotel for a num- ber of years. He came with his family and parents to Ohio, his parents own- ing large tracts of land near Marietta. But they had no sooner reached here than they packed their goods and immediately returned, afterward selling their lands. Our subject came with his father to this State in 1806, and settled in the Mingo bottoms, and afterward went to Stillwater, near Cadiz, which was then a wilderness. Our subject was married, March 19, 1829, to Miss Isabel, daughter of Thomas Gibson; of Tuscarawas County. Their children were fourteen in number, of whom eleven are now living .- Alexander B., Frederick H., Ahia, Margaret, Isabel and Betsy, twins, Philip, Abraham R., Mathew, David W. and Sarah Mrs. Kennedy died June 5, 1850, or 1851, and our subject was again married, on December 14, 1853, to Mrs. Sarah (Sponseller) Buffington, which union has had no issue. Four of Mr. Kennedy's children are residents of this county. His son Frederick was married to Belinda Mo- Pherson, and by her has had four children living-Melville, Ruth, Mary and Frederick. They all live in Perry County, Ill. Alexander was married to Miss Rachel Hallet, and has had ten children, eight of whom are living, res- idents of Cowley County, Kan .; Ahia, married Miss Sophia Linard, and has had eleven children, nine living, all residents of Harrison County, Ohio; Betsy is now Mrs. J. Linard, and has had a family of nine children, of whom eight are now living; the family are residing on Watson Creek in Tuscara- was County, Ohio; Isabel, now Mrs. Mahaffey, has had nine children, of whom eight are living-Sarah M., John C., William J., Hattie B., David W., Ada E., James M. and Obadiah R .; Philip Kennedy is now living in Illinois, and has three children living, five having died; Richard Kennedy married Miss Jennie D. McClelland, by whom he had two children-William M. and Frank E. His first wife dying, he formed a subsequent union with Miranda Irons, and by her has had one child-Melissa N. David W., Jr., is married to Jane Glover, and has had three children, two of whom are living, residents of Perry County, Ill. ; Sarah Kennedy married John Tarbet, of Harrison County, Ohio, and has had three children, one of whom is living-Ina McDaniel; Mathew G. Kennedy is married to Miss Ella Were; resides in Trenton, Mo., and has one child-Leroy Parker. Our subject has always followed farming, and most of the time has resided in Tuscarawas County. Two of his sons were in the late rebellion. He owns 156 acres of land in the township of Rush. He is a large, portly man, of a hearty nature and strong build. He has cut the timber and split 400 rails in one day, besides doing other chores.

WILLIAM LATTO, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, was born in Philadelphia, Penn., July 2, 1825. His parents emigrated from Ireland to this country in

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1822, having been married in that year. They had in their family twelve children, seven of whom are now living-Alexander; Andrew; Catherine, wife of Elias Uhrich, whose father, Michael, was the founder of the city of Uhrichsville; Eliza, wife of James Barkley, and the mother of two children -Jessie A. and Audrew, all residents of Rush Township; John, in Kansas; David E., also in Kansas, and William. Our subject was married in 1850 to Miss Rebecca Houk (deceased), and by her had four children-Thomas A .; Elizabeth A., wife of E. J. Furney; Jacob H. and William H. Mr. Latto was again married, in 1874, to Mrs. Elizabeth Ross, nee Smith, a widow with five children-Lauffer; Eliza, wife of M. Davis; Spencer R., on the railroad; Josephine and Nathaniel. Mr. and Mrs. Latto have been made the happy parents of two children-Irena and Frederick. Mr. Latto has served as Township Assessor, Treasurer and Trustee, and is one of the township's best men. He has a farm of 217 acres, lying along the railroad, of which two- thirds of it is bottom land. Considerable coal is found in the hills, and the farm buildings are of a superior order.

R. A. McADOO, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, was born in Rush Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, December 20, 1846. His parents. William and Nancy (Clark) McAdoo, were natives of Ireland and Ohio respectively. They had a family of eight children, seven of whom are living, viz .: Susan, Robert, Jane, William J. (deceased February 6, 1854), Mary, Thomas, James and Martha. Thomas was married, December 25, 1881, to Miss Martha Romig. and has one child, named William C. William McAdoo was a manufacturer of linen in Ireland, but, after coming to Ohio, followed farming He emi. grated to America, landing in New York on June 12, 1832; thence went to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1844. He then came to Ohio and set. tled on the farm now occupied by his family. He died September 27, 1881, having been preceded by his wife August 17, 1865. He left a fine farm, which is now occupied by his sons. The subject of this sketch had chosen the medical profession, to which he devoted four years of study, prepar- atory to practicing, but on the decease of his father he relinquished his studies and took charge of his father's estate. He expects to finish his studies at sume future time. He and his brothers are now working the farm and deal in good common stock.

THOMAS B. RANKIN, farmer, P. O. Gnadenhutten, was born in Rush Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, October 1, 1844, and is a son of Thomas and Jane (Ellis) Rankin, the former of Washington County, Penn., the latter of Maryland. His grandfather, James Rankin, emigrated.to Ohio in 1813 and settled in Athens Township, Harrison County, where he lived and died. His great-grandfather was a member of Williamson's force that massacred the ninety-six Moravian Indians at Gnadenhutten, and was one of the sixteen who stepped out from the ranks, refusing to take part in the horrible transaction. Our subject's parents were married in September, 1833, and came to Tusca- rawas County in 1837 and settled on the farm which our subject now occupies. Their children numbered seven, of whom four survive -- James, William A., Sarah A. and Thomas B. Thomas being of a studious turn of mind when a boy, was designed for a professional life by his father, and he was accordingly educated with that view. But, on the decease of his father, he was obliged to lay aside his books and take charge of the farm. This he did, and has proved himself a successful farmer. He was married, January 2, 1868, to Miss Mary J., daughter of Jacob Ripley, of Rush Township, and has had seven children, of whom Edwin C., Thomas D., Alvin R. and Effa M. are deceased, and Horace C., Cora J. and Bertha R. survive. His studies, though interrupted, were not discontinued, and while overseeing his farm he lives in an atmosphere of

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books. He delights in public discussions, particularly those of a theological nature, and his calm, dispassionate, straightforward plan of reasoning makes him no mean opponent. His religious views are considered to be very eccen- tric. He has lately entered on his third term as Justice of the Peace, and is Master of the Patrons of Husbandry.

H. R. RIPLEY, farmer, P. O. Tracy, was born in the year 1835 on the farm he now occupies in Rush Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He is a son of Jacob and Mary (Dixon) Ripley, who emigrated from Germany at an early day and settled in Freeport, Harrison County, Ohio. They afterward came to Tuscarawas County and settled in Rush Township, where they spent the re- mainder of their days. They reared a family of eight children, of whom five have survived, viz., Comfort (the wife of D. Heller), Ann (wife of B. Ken- nedy). Isaac, Mary Jane (wife of Thomas B. Rankin) and H. R. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, in 1857, with Miss Lydia, daughter of John Borger. This union has been blessed with seven children, six of whom are living. Their names are as follows: Mary E. (wife of Mr. A. Grove and the parent of one child, residents of Missouri), Agnes L. (wife of I. Beal, of Guernsey County, Ohio, the parents of one child), Alice R. (at home), Frank D., Adolphus L. and another. Mr. Ripley is one of the prominent farm- ers of this county and has 400 acres of land, part of which abounds in coal. He resides on his farm, which is located about seven miles from Uhrichsville. He has been Assessor of his township and is a member of the Methodist Epis. copal Church. In politics, he supports the Democratic party.

ROBERT SPROUL, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, February 16, 1822, and is a son of William and grandson of John Sproul, a native of Ireland, who came to America about the middle of the last century. About the year 1815, William Sproul married, in County Tyrone, Ireland, Miss Sarah Gillies, and shortly after migrated to this country. He first located in Philadelphia, but remained there only a short time, when he removed to Harrison County, Ohio, and subsequently to Rush Township. this county, which at that time was a howling wilderness. He had a family of seven children, of whom Mary, William J. and Sarah Ann are deceased: and James, Robert, Mary Jane and George are now living. He was a weaver by trade, but in this, the land of his adoption, he resorted to the ax, the plow and the sickle as a more certain means of success, and with the indomitable per- severance displayed by all the sturdy pioneers of his day, he eventually secured from the forest depths a comfortable homestead and ample compe- tency. That for many years when the township was rough and the position one of danger he creditably filled the office of Constable fully attests that he possessed nerve as well as muscle. He died in 1840, and in 1866 his widow followed him. Robert Sproul, the subject of this biography, was married, in the year 1845, to Susannah, daughter of George W. and Rebecca (Reed) Gib son, natives of Pennsylvania. By this union there have been five children. viz., George W. (born May 24, 1846), James R. (born September 2, 1850), Rebecca {born June 3, 1852), Henry O. (born March 31, 1856) and Louisa (born October 25, 1858). Mr. Sproul's farm comprises 422 acres of fine land in the Stillwater Valley, about one mile from the Stillwater Station, C. L. & W. Railroad. His residence and farm are among the best in the township. They are situated one mile from Stillwater Station, C., L. &W. Railroad.

HENRY STAHL, farmer, P. O. Stillwater, was born August 14, 1824, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (McElvain) Stahl, the former of Penn- sylvania, the latter of Ireland. Mrs. Stahl was eight years old when she crossed the ocean. Our subject's father came to Ohio in 1822, and purchased

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a piece of land in Rush Township, on which he resided until his decease, June 22, 1842; his widow followed him, December 11, 1869. They had eleven children in their family, of whom only four survive-John, a resident of Cherokee County, Iowa, and the parent of ten children;, Leonard, resident of Rush Township; Rachel, wife of William Berney, Harrison County, Ohio, and the parent of one child; and Henry, the subject of this sketch. Henry was married, October 12, 1848, to Miss Emily, daughter of William Ross, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl have a family of five chil- dren, viz .: Mckendree, married to Miss Annie, daughter of Clark Hill, of Pcoria, Ill., the parents of three children-Emory W., Clara G. and Bessie M .; Mary E., now Mrs. William Simpson, of Harrison County, Ohio, the parent of four children-Eugene, Herbert, Pearl, and Anna L .; Nancy E., at home; Emily A., wife of Lewis H. Deems, living near her father's residence; and Pardon C., at home. Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Deems are the parents of two children, Dalphis L. and Frank F. Our subject has lived on the farm he oc- cupies for nearly sixty years, and is one of the oldest pioneers of Rush Town- ship. He has served his township as Trustee for several years, and is a prom- inent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been Steward. He has a fine farm in Stillwater Valley, about six miles from Uhrichs- ville, consisting of 242 acres, about one-half or two-thirds valley or bottom land. It is all well watered and cultivated, with good improvements. In politics, Mr. Stahl is a Republican.

WILLIAM H. TURNER, farmer, P. O. Tracy, was born in Ilush Town- ship, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, July 24, 1828, and is a son of William and Mary A. (Sewell) Turner, both natives of Maryland. His parents had eight children-Charles, Ellen, Daniel, Andrew, John, William H., Elizabeth and David. William H. Turner's grandfather, Daniel Turner, was said to be one of the first white settlers of Rush Township. Our subject's father mi- grated to Ohio about 1812, settled near Lima, and was among the early pio- neers of the county. Mrs. Turner was one of the old-time spinners, and man. ufactured homespun goods. Our subject's early education was derived from a subscription school, held in an old log house. The house was furnished with a long fire place, each scholar having to prepare wood for the occasion; a few puncheon seats, a few benches, covered overhead by clapboard roof, a log being left out on the sunny side for light; a copy book, and a few birch rods to preserve order, completed the arrangement. The pupils would often keep out the teacher, on holidays, until he would bring a bushel or two of apples, to treat them. Mr. Turner was united in marriage, April 4, 1850, with Miss Eliza, daughter of William Alexander, of Rush Township. The four chil- dren born are Mary E., Rachel A., William D. and Annabel. Two are mar- ried, one since deceased. Mrs. Wildman, who left one child, Harvey W., is resid- ing in Trumbull County, Ohio. Rachel A. is now Mrs. James M. Parks, and has three children, viz .: Verde, Irena Forrest, and Mont Overton, who is deceased. Mr. Turner, for many years, has served as Trustee of his township. He owns a fine farm, and is continually occupied in improving it. One of his many ingenious arrangements has been the placing of pipes leading from a spring in a hill to his house. He is an adherent of the Methodist Episcopal Church; has held the office of Steward for many years. He is a member of the Masonic order.

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SALEM TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, deceased, was a resident of Port Washington. He was born in Dover Township, two miles from Dover, February 17, 1815. son of James and Margaret Armstrong. James Armstrong was a native of Scotland, and died in Dover Township in 1829. His wife, a Virginian by birth, also died in Dover Township in 1849. William Armstrong was united in marriage, October 16, 1836, with Polly Kline, born July 25, 1819, daugh ter of Jacob and Elizabeth Kline. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, five are living-Rosanna, wife of Martin Hagan, M. D .; Olive M .; Hulda S., wife of Francis Miller; Thomas D. and Harry R. The deceased are Richard H., Elizabeth, Winfield, James J., Medora S. and Ettie A. Mr. Armstrong and family settled in Salem Township in 1841, and at Port Washington in 1843. He was Superintendent on the canal until 1845 and then engaged in mercan- tile pursuits until 1876, when he retired from active work, owing to ill health. His death occurred March 21, 1879. His widow and daughter still reside at Port Washington. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

PETER J. ARTH, farmer, P. O. Port Washington, was born in Germany April 26, 1830, son of Peter and Sophia Arth, natives of Germany, where Peter died in 1865, his wife in 1832. Peter J. emigrated to America in 1848 and came direct to this county, where he has ever since remained. He was married, October 22, 1857, to Elizabeth Tidrick, born in this county June 11, 1838, daughter of Daniel Tidrick. She died August 18, 1876, a member of the German Lutheran Church, with which denomination Mr. Arth is now con- nected. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Arth, seven of whom are living -- Mary E., Peter, Jacob P., Catherine S., Margaret S., Frederick W. and Caroline. Emma and Albert are deceased. Mr. Arth has been a life- long farmer, and has met with good success in life. He owns 200 acres of well improved land.

PHILIP BARTH, shoe-maker, Port Washington, was born in Sötern Gross- herzogethum Oldenburg Fürstenthum Birkenfeld, Germany, September 6, 1851, son of Philip and Julia Barth. Philip Barth, Sr., died in 1854; his widow still resides in Germany. Our subject acquired his trade in Germany and emigrated to this country February 15, 1870, settling at Port Washington, where he has since followed his trade with success. He was married, April 29, 1876, to Susan C. Kropp, who was born at Phillipsburg May 16, 1857, daughter of Jacob and Susan Kropp. Her mother is deceased and her father has remarried and now resides at Phillipsburg with his second wife. To Philip Barth and wife three children have been born-Frank F., Charles R. and Mary E. Barth. Himself and wife are members of the German Lutheran Church. Mr. Barth is a member of the I. O. O. F., and it was through the efforts of him and two others that the Port Washington Lodge was instituted. He is also a member of the Benevolent German Society at Dover, Ohio.

JOHN BREMER (deceased), a former resident of Salem Township, was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, son of Conrad and Barbara Bremer, who were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Tuscarawas County about 1814, where they remained through life. John, the subject of this sketch, was united in marriage, in 1831, with Elizabeth Sherren, born in Maryland October 23, 1812. daughter of Andrew and Nancy Sherren, both of whom died in Ohio. To

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John Bremer and wife twelve children were born, of whom four survive, viz, John Hezekiah, Jonas, Sarah E. (wife of Christian Hamersly) and Laura (wife of L. S. Sargent). The deceased are Andrew, Nancy J., Jerusha, Barbara (wife of J. Ramel), Harriet (wife of E. Mankle), Plin .V. and two infants. Mr. Bre- mer was engaged in farming and stock-raising, and at his death owned a large tract of land in partnership with his brother. He was successful in life and died January 22, 1875. By his death Salem Township lost one of its best citizens. Mrs. Bremer is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church.

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The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 106

Author: Warner, Beers & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Warner, Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017