The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 111

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

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MARION D. SKEELS, of Mineral City, Ohio, is a son of Samuel and Matilda J. (True) Skeels, natives of Maryland, whose family consisted of twelve children, of whom the following survive, viz., Elizabeth, Henry C., Marion D., William O., Nancy J., Charles W., Mary E., Samuel E. and Ida. Marion D. was married, January 8, 1882, to Alice, daughter of Philip Black. They have one child-Curtis O. Mr. Skeels received a collegiate education; he is engaged in the practice of law, and is also Justice of the Peace. He is an active and safe dealer and enthusiastic in business. He is six feet in height, of strong physique, and has dark hair and eyes. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics affiliates with the Republican party.

DAVID SPEAKER, farmer, P. O. Sandyville, was born in 1802, son of David and Mary (Yeiser) Speaker, who died in Pennsylvania. David, our subject, was married July 1, 1828, to Jane Richey. Of their eleven children eight are living, viz., Mary A., Eliza J., Sarah A., Matilda E., Harriet, Ben- jamin F., George W. and Margaret E. Mr. Speaker in 1840 came from Penn- sylvania to his present farm. After the death of his wife, he was again married, May 27, 1852, to Mrs. Abigail Weaver, widow of B. F. Weaver, and daughter of John and Elizabeth Farber, who were among the oldest and best pioneers of the township. By her first marriage to B. F. Weaver, Mrs. Speaker had four children, two of whom, Joshua and John D., are living. The marriage of David and Abigail Speaker was blessed with two children -- David F. and An- nie E. (wife of Noah Fry). Mr. Speaker has served his township as Trustee and School Director. He has been successful in life, and owns 260 acres in the Tuscarawas Valley, near Sandyville. David F., his son, born June 8, 1862, resides at home, and assists in the management of the farm. Mr. Speaker is an intelligent old gentlemen, with blue eyes and of ordinary size, and has had no education save what he received in the primitive log schoolhouses, lighted through greased paper windows. John D. Weaver, son of Franklin and Abigail (Farber) Weaver, was born April 15, 1849, and was married, No- vember 3, 1868, to Mary, daughter of Samuel Cable, of Stark County. Their children are Samuel E., Bertha A., Julia B., Beatrice and Liew.

LEWIS SUMMERS, farmer, P. O. Magnolia. was born April 22, 1823, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Judd) Summers, who settled in Stark

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County in 1826, and here died, the former in 1841. the latter in 1827. Of their seven children, five are living, viz., Daniel, John, Solomon, Ambrose, and Lewis, our subject, who was married March 8, 1849, to Elizabeth Weaver, born September 19, 1827. Her father, Jacob Weaver, settled near Oneida, Carroll County, in 1840, and five of his seven children are now living-Philip, Jacob, David, Henry and Elizabeth. Lewis and Elizabeth Summers have been blessed with ten children-Emeline (now Mrs. B. Hunt), Amanda (now Mrs. P. Seaman), Philip (who married Mary Dewal), John, Margaret (now Mrs. H. Stahl), Daniel, Elizabeth (now Mrs. Charles Kugler), Sarah H., Phebe and Benjamin. Mr. Summers has lived in Sandy Township thirty-two years, and owns a fine farm of 200 acres, with an abundance of coal, the reward of his own industry, for he commenced life with nothing. In politics, he is Democratic.

EMANUEL G. SWEANEY, farmer, P. O. Sandyville, was born February 5, 1843, the eldest son of William and Sarah (Beghtel) Sweaney. William Sweaney was born July 7, 1823, son of John and Loesa (Gump) Sweaney, who were natives of Maryland, and emigrated to Ohio, settling near Sandyville, where they lived for many years, and died leaving seven children. William was married October 17, 1839, to Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Be htel, who had nine children, four of whom are living. The family of William and Sarah Sweaney consisted of seven children, five of whom are living, viz .: Emanuel G., William M., Sarah M. and Mary T., twins, and Amanda A., wife of Jefferson Newhouse. Mary T. is the wife of F. Weaver. Emanuel G., our subject, enlisted in 1864, for three years, or during the war, under Capt. Charles Harger. He participated in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, and at Nashville, Tenn. He passed through the conflict without a wound, and re- ceived an honorable discharge in 1865, but like most of his comrades the con- stant exposure injured his health, and he suffers from an affection of the throat. He was married, May 5, 1870, to Oseeania, daughter of George and Matilda Lechner. They have but one child, Emmet Grant, born January 23, 1871. Mr. Sweaney is a Republican in politics. His father was successful in business, and left ample means for his children. Emanuel G. possesses a portion of the old homestead, in the beautiful Tuscarawas Valley, upon which he has erected a neat and commodious residence.

WILLIAM M. SWEANEY, farmer, P. O. Sandyville, was born December 18, 1844, and is a son of William and Sarah (Beghtel) Sweaney. He was mar- ried, March 2, 1870, to Margaret Cable, daughter of Samuel Cable. Four children have been born to them, viz .: Olive, born September 3, 1871; Ervin S., born January 26, 1873; Clyde C., born November 12, 1876. and Clemen- tine A., born March 2, 1880. Mr. Sweaney also owns and occupies a portion of the rich inheritance received from his father, with its fine location, its sub- stantial, modern buildings, and its high state of cultivation and beauty; his farm is a delightful country seat, supplied with all conveniences and natural advantages. In politics, Mr. Sweaney is Republican.

WESLEY M. TRACY, Mayor of Mineral City, was born September 10, 1841, son of Nelson and Lucinda (Welch) Tracy, natives of Ohio. The family of Nelson Tracy consisted of twelve children. Wesley M. Tracy, in the fall of 1861, enlisted in the Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and remained in service eighteen months, receiving his discharge on account of a lingering disease. He was married, May 4, 1865, to Sarah, daughter of John Christ. Their family consists of three children-William E., Ada M. and Minnie A. Mr. Tracy was elected Justice of the Peace in 1868, and has served since. He is also clerk of the township, and Mayor of the village, and is a successful and leading citizen of Sandy Township. He owns a farm south of Mineral City whereon is an abundance of iron, fire-clay and coal, which he is now mining.

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E. VANKIRK, merchant, Mineral City, is the son of William and Lucinda (Wiley) Vankirk, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Washington County, Penn. The early part of William Vankirk's life was spent in Wayne County, Ohio. He now lives in Medina County. His children were Eben, the subject of this sketch; David H., of Topeka, Kan .; Mattie E., of Canal Fulton, Stark County; and Sarah, of Denver, Colo. Eben was married. November 26, 1867, to Nancy E., daughter of Jobn A. Ebey, who came to Ohio in an early day, and had in his family four children-John D., Mary C., Samuel and Nancy E. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Vankirk are Effie L., Talithia H., Orlando D. and John W. Mr. Vankirk has been engaged for nine years at Mineral City in general merchandising, and has an excellent trade. He has been Township Treasurer for three years, and himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the leading, enterprising citizens of the grow- ing village of Mineral City.

W. F. WALTER, farmer and proprietor planing mill, Mineral City, was born December 23, 1849, son of George and Elizabeth (Wilson) Walter. George Walter is a native of Germany, his wife of Ohio. They reared a family of nine children-Mary, Louisa, Harry, Frank, Anna, Ada, John, Henry, and W. F., the subject of this sketch, who was married, December 31, 1876, to Anna E., daughter of Alfred Davis. Mr. Walter is one of the founders of the Min- eral City Planing Mill, and is also a proprietor in the furniture manufactory. He is an enterprising young business man of Mineral City.

JOSHUA WEAVER, farmer, P. O. Magnolia, was born May 2, 1840, son of B. F. and Abigail, (Farber) Weaver, of whose four children two are living, Joshua and J. D. Mrs. Abigail Weaver is now the wife of David Speaker. Joshua Weaver was married, August 28, 1873, to Mary, daughter of William and Sarah Sweaney. Their children are William F. Sweaney and Milan A. Mr. Weaver has a fine farm of 147 acres. In one corner of it is the old family graveyard, walled in with cut stone three feet in height. John Farber and wife, the maternal grandparents of our subject, lie buried here. On the farm is an excellent coal mine, from which coal has been taken for fifteen years. Mr. Weaver is of average height. His farm possesses good, modern buildings.

SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

JAMES ALLISON, farmer, P. O. Winfield, was born in Lawrence Town- ship, this county, in 1821, and is a son of William and Magdalene (Keller) Allison, natives of Pennsylvania, and very early settlers of this county, locat- ing near the present site of the Zoar Society. The former enlisted during the war of 1812. They are both deceased, having lived long and, useful lives, and rendered much valuable service in the development of the county. They left a family of six children, five of whom are now living, all in this neighborhood, with farms adjoining. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm, and received a limited education. He made his home with his father till his mar- riage, although after his majority he was engaged in various pursuits, which took him away from home a great deal. During this time he followed cattle- droving to Pennsylvania and Maryland, for six years. He also taught school for six terms in Oxford, Wayne, Lawrence and Dover Townships. In 1856, he was united in marriage with Sevilla Swalley, a native of Stark County, Ohio; and to this union there have been born seven children, four of whom

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are living -Frank W., Clara M., Charlie L. and John M. After working for one year, Mr. Allison bought the farm where he now lives. He has been indus- trious and successful, and has built up and added to his place until he now owns 375 acres of well cultivated land. He is a Republican in politics, and was formerly a Whig. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

WILLIAM ALLISON, farmer, P. O. Barr's Mills, was born March 16, 1824, in Lawrence Township, this county, and is a son of William and Mag- dalene Allison, whose biography is recorded elsewhere in this work. The family came to Sugar Creek Township when our subject was seven years of age, and he was here raised, attending the schools of those early times. He married, February 11, 1851, Eliza Bair, daughter of Jonas Bair, of Dover Township. Their family numbers ten children-Jonas, married to Miss Emma Rosenberr, living in this township, the parents of one child; John H., de- ceased at the age of twenty-one; Mary E., wife of Albert Froelich, living in this township, parents of one child; Jane, wife of Webster M. Bair; Magda- lene, wife of Washington Wallick, of Wayne Township, parents of three children; Clara, William, Albert and Washington, at home. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Allison settled on the place where they now live. which is the old Allison homestead. They have here a fine farm of 199 acres of well-improved land, and have been industrious and successful in life. Mr. Allison is one of the leading citizens of the township, a Republican in poli- tics, and with his wife a member of the Lutheran Church. He taught school for seven terms, from 1845 to 1854.

DANIEL ALLISON, farmer, P. O. Barr's Mills, was born September 4. 1834, in Sugar Creek Township, this county, and is a son of William and Mar. tha Allison, whose biography is elsewhere. He was raised on a farm, obtain- ing a common school education, and lived with his father until his marriage, which took place January 23, 1858, with Miss Ouardi Richardson. To this union have been born four children-George F. (deceased at seven years of age), Mary. May, Cora A. and Robert S. After their marriage they settled on the place where they now live, and have acquired a fine farm of 105 acres of well- improved land with excellent buildings. Mr. Allison is a Democrat in politics. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a reliable and influential citizen of Sugar Creek Township.

JONAS ALLISON, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Winfield, was born No. vember 31, 1851, in Sugar Creek Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and is a son of William Allison, whose history is recorded elsewhere. He was reared on a farm and obtained his education in the schools of the township. He was united in marriage, November 7, 1875, with Miss Emma Rosenberry, of Dover Township. They are settled on a farm near Mr. Rosenberry in this township. Here Mr. Allison purchased a place of ninety-seven acres of land. They have one child-Blaine Allison. Mr. Allison is an ardent supporter of the princi- ples of the Republican party. He is an energetic and ambitious young busi. ness man, and a citizen of good influence and high standing in the community where he resides.

DANIEL BAIR, retired farmer, P. O. Winfield, was born in 1813 in this coun- ty. His parents, Leonard and Eve Bair, natives of Pennsylvania, were very early settlers of this county, coming here in 1810. The county was then very new, Indians and wild animals abounding, but they took up a lease on a tract of 320 acres of land, which they cleared and developed into a home. The father died in 1826, the mother in 1839. Of their family of eleven children, only two are living-our subject and Esther, widow of Abraham Knaga. of Whit- ley County, Ind. Our subject was raised on a farm, and obtained his educa- tion in the limited schools of those early days. In 1836, he was united in

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marriage with Sallie Welty, a native of this township. Mr. Bair lived on rented property for several years after his marriage, and then bought a farm, and by hard work and careful management has gradually increased it until the home place now comprises 1762 acres of well-improved land. They have one child -- Esther Ann, who was married to Harmon Sheeler (deceased), by whom she had three children-Edward, George and Daniel. Mr. Sheeler died in 1870, and Esther is living with her father. Mrs. Bair died June 27, 1880. She was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was a faithful wife and kind mother. Mr. Bair is a life-long advocate of the Democratic party, and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

EPHRAIM A. BAKER, farmer, P. O. Shanesville, was born in Sugar Creek Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, August 12, 1834, and is a son of Henry Baker. He was reared on his father's farm and obtained a common school education in this township. For several years previous to his marriage, he was occupied in stock-raising. He married, February 11, 1863, Miss Cath- erine Byers, a native of the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany. Her parents emigrated to America, settling in Auburn Township, this county and State, when she was but a few months old. Her father died shortly after his arrival, but her mother still survives, and is a resident of Dover, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker have been born four children-Ellen J., Edward B., James F. and John H. In 1870, Mr. Baker purchased seventy acres of the old homestead farm, and has since resided there. In politics, he is a Democrat; was elected to the office of Township Trustee in 1877, and served in that capacity for five years, declining a re-election. He filled the office with satisfaction to the people and with credit to himself. He is an ardent friend to the cause of education, and the moral and intellectual development of the community in which he resides. He has an intelligent and interesting family who are in high social standing, and give promise of making useful citizens.

WILLIAM C. BAKER, farmer and Notary Public, P. O. Shanesville, was born in Sugar Creek Township, this county and State, June 2, 1838. His parents, Henry and Anna Baker, natives of Somerset County, Penn., were im- migrants to this township in the year 1812, and were married in 1832. They at once settled on the farm which Mr. Baker already owned, and which is still in the possession of their children. Mr. Baker departed this life in 1870, fol- lowed by his widow in 1872. They were pioneers belonging to that class of the original settlers whose indomitable energy and perseverance overcame all the difficulties and hardships incident to a new country. They left a family of eight children, all of whom survive, viz .: Henry, Ephraim, Elizabeth and William C., of this township ; Andrew J., of Huntington County, Ind. ; Reu- ben H., of Holmes County, Ohio ; Margaret A., wife of David G. Pershing, of this township ; and Mary C., wife of Jacob Steeg, of Boone County, Iowa. W. C. Baker, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm, and educated at the common schools of the township. He adopted the profession of teaching, and followed it for several years in this State and Indiana. He also dealt in live stock, in which business he visited the States in the West and Southwest. In 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Leavengood, who was born in Auburn Township, this county and State. The results of this union have been five children, viz. : Margaret E., Franklin, Iola, Elnora and Thomas J. After a residence of eight years in Auburn Township, Mr. Baker settled on a part of the old Baker farm, where he has since lived. He has served two terms as Township Assessor, and one term as Justice of the Peace, declining a re-election. He has also an appointment as Notary Public, which he has held for several terms, and does considerable public business as Convey-

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ancer, settling decedents' estates, etc. In politics, he is a Democrat, and is regarded as a leading business man and influential citizen of Sugar Creek Township.

DAVID BARR, miller, of the firm of David Barr & Son, Barr's Mills, was born in 1820, in Bedford County, Penn., and is a son of Henry and Susanna (Bizler) Barr, who emigrated to the neighborhood of Navarre, Stark County, Ohio, in 1822. Mr. Barr began the milling business when fourteen years of age, and continued it until his death in 1867 ; his wife died in 1863. The subject of this sketch learned milling under his father's instructions in Stark County, and at eighteen years of age took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about twenty years. He was united in marriage June 5, 1851, with Lavinia Tom, who was born in Stark County, Ohio. In 1967, he bought Walter's Mill on Sugar Creek, in this township, which name he changed to Barr's Mills. Here has grown up quite a village on the Connotton Valley Railroad. Mr. Barr was quite active in securing the railway, and gave liber- ally toward it. In 1878, he took into partnership his son, W. M. Barr, under the firm name of D. Barr & Son. They have improved the machinery and building, and, by their enterprise and courteous treatment of their patrons. have built up a large custom. Mr. Barr is a Republican. He is the father of four children, viz. : Emma S. (deceased), wife of E. Henderson ; Webster M , Sarah E. and James. W. M. Barr was born in Stark County, Ohio, November 4. 1854. He learned the milling business with his father, and in 1878 engaged in partnership with him. He married Miss Jane Allison October 23, 1877. Their children are Ida N. (deceased), and Mila. The family are members of the Lutheran Church.

MARGARET (HOSELTON) BEYER, resident of Shanesville for seven- teen years, was born in Maryland April 3, 1823. Is a daughter of Christian and Eva (Rohrer) Hoselton. Her parents were natives of Maryland, and in the autumn of the year, 1823, emigrated to Holmes County, Ohio. After living there twenty-two years, they moved to Dover Township, Tuscarawas County, and in 1860 to New Philadelphia. Here Mrs. Hoselton departed this life, at the advanced age of eighty one and a half years. She was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was a lady of estimable character. In 1879, Mr. Hos- elton moved to the State of Iowa, where he died, April 19, 1883, at the age of ninety-six years. He was also a member of the Lutheran Church, and much esteemed. He leaves a family of seven children, viz. : John, of Bloom- ington, Ill. ; Jacob, Davenport, Iowa; Margaret, our subject; Catherine, wife of Rev. J. W. Swick, Dayton, Ohio; Magdalene, wife of Isaac Gorsnch, Nokomis, Ill .; Eva, widow of Isaac Jones, New Philaelphia; and Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Smutz, of this county. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, September 11, 1866, with Mr. John Beyer, a native of Pennsylvania. He was a merchant of Shanesville, and departed this life on August 10, 1875. Mrs. Beyer is an ardent advocate of woman suffrage, temperance and other reforms, embodying the advanced ideas of modern thought. She is a lady of intelligence and literary culture, and wields a strong influence in favor of the cause of truth, morality and justice-"yes! justice to all creatures, whether male or female."

DAVID G. BRUNER, dentist, Dover, Ohio, was born in the year 1829. His parents were then living in Fayette County, Penn., but came in their later years to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, remaining for two years, and finally pro- ceeding to Defiance County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm, receiving his liter. ary education in the township, and afterward in the Normal School at Staun- ton, Penn. He came to Ohio and Sugar Creek Township, in 1851, and set-

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tled on the place he now occupies, immediately commencing the practice of his profession. He was married in 1853, to Miss Rachel A. Stout, a resident of Westmoreland County, Penn. To them have been born two sons, one of whom, Richard, is a wholesale druggist in Pueblo, Colo .; he has been an en- ergetic, enterprising and successful business man, and has made a first class standing for himself among the citizens of that young and flourishing city. The other son, William, is a successful cattle-raiser, in El Paso County, Colo. Dr. Bruner took a course of studies in the science of dentistry in Pittsburgh, Penn., and has practiced ever since he came to this county. He is thorough and skillful in his chosen profession, and by his courteous treatment of his patrons and superior scientific attainments, has built up a large practice in this and adjoining counties. His work gives entire satisfaction to his custom- ers, and is a recommendation to those who need the services of a skillful den- tist. He takes great interest in the cause of education, and was engaged for some time in his early life in teaching. He is a supporter of the Democratic party in politics, and is a member of the United Brethren Church.

JOHN BURKHALTER, painter and tanner, Shanesville, was born in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, in 1832. His parents ended their days in the mother country. He came to America and to Shanesville, Ohio, when twenty years of age, and, having learned tanning in Switzerland, commenced working at that trade. On January 6, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Chris- tina Burki, also a native of Switzerland, and to them have been born nine chil- dren-Frederick W., residing in Dover, Ohio; Mary L., wife of Jerome Weimer, of Barr's Mills; John H., Charles E., Benjamin F., Hannah A., Me- lissa, George W. and Dewitt C. In 1865, Mr. Burkhalter removed to Dundee, Ohio, and carried on a tan yard for twelve years, returning to Shanesville in 1878. He is a supporter of the Democratic party, and a member of the Ger- man Reformed Church. He has been a man of quiet industry and usefulness, and enjoy the respect of all his friends and neighbors.

JACOB BURKY, of the firm of Burky & Troyer, druggists. Shanesville, was born in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, July 6, 1833, and is a son of John Burky. Our subject was educated in his native country and emigrated to the United States, coming to Holmes County, Ohio, in 1853. He began the study of the medical profession in early boyhood, and in March, 1863, engaged in the practice of medicine, living on a farm in Sugar Creek Township, where he also kept a small drug store. In 1859, he took a trip back to his fatherland, and on the journey there was appointed the ship's physician, the duties of which he discharged to the end of the voyage. On the 1st of September, 1879, he purchased Dr. Miller's interest in the drug store, becoming a partner with Mr. Troyer. The firm keep a first class, reliable stock of drugs, and have established a flourishing trade. Dr. Burky was united in marriage, June 9, 1881, with Miss Elizabeth Oswald, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio. He is one of the leading, intelligent men of Sugar Creek Township.

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The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 111

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

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