The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 101

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Ohio > Union County > The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record; > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

HON. FRENCH GARWOOD, deceased, was one of the oldest merchants in Union County ; was born in East Liberty, Logan Co., Ohio, April 7. 1823. He was the eldest of seven brothers, and son of Isaiah and Caroline Garwood. His father was a Virginian and came to Ohio very early in its settlement, then inhabited by several tribes of Indians. When the oldest child was but thirteen years of age, the family circle was broken upby the death of their mother. French, at that early age, was placed as clerk with a merchant of East Liberty, named Harrington. In the spring of 1838, he came to Union County, and was employed by Immer Reynolds in the furniture trade, and as clerk in the mercantile business. Mr. Garwood was with Mr. Reynolds until the year 1845, in the mean time receiving the greater part of his school education, and becoming a finished workmen in the manufacture of furniture, as well as a trusted clerk in the store. The death of his employer occurring about that time, the business was closed up, and between the years of 1845 and 1849, he was with Louis Reynolds, selling goods in Milford Cen- ter, and with Rodney Pickett, an old merchant of Marysville, also book-keeper for Ralph E. Runkle, of West Liberty, Ohio. In 1849, he located in Urbana, Ohio, as clerk with the Weaver Brothers. In the fall of 1851, he commenced selling goods in Milford Center, and April 15, 1852, married Sarepta Il. Reynolds, daughter of Immer and Hope Reynolds. Their children are Charles M., Don A., Nellie E. and Venetia, all of whom are at present living. Mr. Gar- wood was a leading merchant and largely identified with the business interests of Milford for & period of twenty-seven years, always holding some office of trust, among them that of Township Treasurer, also Sunday-school Treasurer of Union Sabbath school, and, although not a member of any church, as he used to laughingly remark, " first-cousin to all the churches ;" he was truly gen- erous to them all, both in opinion and financially. He was an honored member of Palestine Lodge, No. 158, of Free and Accepted Masons ; also member of Darby Lodge, No. 636, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and practiced and taught the tenets of each, both by precept and example. French Garwood was enrolled, on the 2d day of May, 1864, to serve one hundred days as First Sergeant in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment of National Guards of Ohio Volunteers, H. Irwin Smith, Colonel, commanding. He was honorably discharged from the service, August 31, 1864, at Camp Chase, Ohio, by reason of expiration of term of enlistment. In politics, Mr. Garwood was always a zealous Republican, and represented Union County in the Ohio Legislature for two sessions-1876-77. After his legislative term, his health failing, he remained at home unoccupied for some months, but being of an energetic and industrious habit, accepted of the position as cashier in the Milford Center Bank, which position he held at the time of his death. which occurred April 5, 1879. His funeral ceremonies were conducted by the Order of Knights Templar, of which he was a member. In memorial, we will simply quote the sentiment of a friend : " Ile was a gentleman in deportment, kind-hearted and be- nevolent, and had inbred in his nature all those qualities of head and heart which render men esteemed by their fellow-men."

SPENCER GARWOOD, physician and surgeon, Milford Center, was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1835, and is a son of Jose H1. and Angeline (Culver) Garwood. The former settled in this town with his parents, Daniel and - (Bishop) Garwood, who resided here one year and then went to Logan County, where he died. He was a native of Virginia. Angeline Culver, who was a native of New York, and a daughter of David and Catherine (Callinder) Culver, na-

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IIISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

tives of Connecticut, came to this county in 1812 with her parents, who settled on land pur- chased in this township, where they lived a number of years and then moved to Madison County. The boyhood of our subject was passed on the farm in Logan County, and in attending the public schools of that county. He remained on the farm until he reached his majority, when he en- tered the Farmers' College at Cincinnati, in which he remained three years, reaching his Sopho- more year. In 1861, he enlisted in the Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three months. At the expiration of his term of service, he re-enlisted in Company B, Eighty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and, being sent to the front, saw some active service, but was largely engaged in guarding prisoners at Camp Chase. After four months' service in the above regiment, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment Ohio National Guards, and was made Captain of Company K. Ilis regiment saw service in the front, and par- ticipated in the battle of Cold Harbor and other lesser engagements. Mr. Garwood served in the above regiment until September, 1864, when he was mustered out of the service and returned home. Previous to his discharge, in 1863, he entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, and in 1864 entered the Medical Department of Michigan University at Ann Arbor, completing his studies and graduating at the latter. He then went to Iowa and for two years practiced his profession at Council Bluffs, also opening the first drug store between Council Bluffs and Salt Lake t'ity. He then went to Columbus, Neb., where he practiced medicine, officiated as Postmaster, and kept drug store for two years after. le subsequently went to Massachusetts, where he married Vashti Detwiler, in 1866, and returned to Des Moines, going from there to Fort Scott, Kan., where he remained fourteen years, practicing his profession. In 1880, he went to Washington, D. C., and practiced medicine until the spring of 1882, when he located at Milford Center. He has three children, viz .: Grace O., Ralph S. and Culver D. The Doctor is a prominent and worthy member of the Masonic fraternity.

JACOB GIBSON, farmer, P. O. Milford Center, was born in Pennsylvania in 1811, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth Gibson, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Fayette County, Ohio, about 1814, and lived there until 1826, when they came to Union County and settled in this township, where he lived until his death. Ile was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a man who took considerable interest in religion. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. By his first wife, who died in Fayette County in 1823, he had three children, of whom our subject is the only survivor. Our subject was reared on the farm in Fayette County, and came to this connty in 1826, having lived here continuously since. He owns 224 aeres of land, well im- proved, on which he resides He had four children, viz .: Stewart, deceased, Thomas, Missouri, deceased, and Jane, deceased. Stewart enlisted in 1861 in Company B, Thirty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry for three years, and died in November, 1861, at IIutsonville, Va., at the age of twenty-four years. Mrs. Gibson, whose maiden name was Eleanor Stewart, was a daughter of Joseph and Eleanor Stewart, and died in 1872.

J. H. GILLESPIE, farmer, P. O. Irwin, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1819, and is a son of James and Mary Gillespie, he of Pennsylvania and she of Kentucky. They settled in Champaign County, Ohio, in an early day, where they died, leaving three children. In 1841, our subject came to this co inty, to Milford Center, and in 1849 settled on the farm where he now resides. In 1845, he was married to Anna E., the daughter of Dr. Nicholas Hathaway, by whom he has had three children, viz .: Mary E., Harvey M. and Gertrude A. Mr. Gillespie owns an excellent farm of 200 acres. Dr. Hathaway was born in Massachusetts December 4, 1773. He studied medicine in an Eastern college, and was a graduate. In 1817, he, with his family, consisting of his wife and seven children, came to and settled in this township, in which he purchased 1,000 acres of land. He was a successful practitioner and an influential and respected citizen. lIe was one of the first judges of the county, and served in the Legisla- ture two terms, the first in 1826, the other probably in 1834. le was a Democrat in political faith, and was an exemplary member of the Christian Church, in which he was a Deacon. By his first wife, Anna Perce, he had nine children ; seven came to Ohio, viz .: Elnathan I'., Lenora, William R. P., Joana P., Elias, Catherine, Ebenezer. Ifis first wife was born December 18, 1769. By his second wife, Elizabeth Mitchell Martin, he had one child, viz .: Anna E. Mrs. Hathaway died February 15, 1863. She was born May 2, 1787.

ORIN HAMMOND, farmer, P. O. Irwin, was born in Ontario County, N. Y., April 10, 1809, and is a son of Jonathan Hammond, who settled in Clark County, Ohio, in 1812, and af- terward in Madison County, from whence he went to Illinois and died. Our subject resided in Madison County six years, and in 1839 came to this township, where he has since lived and prospered. lle owns a good farm of 103 acres, on which he resides. For a time he dealt exten- sively in stock, but now devotes his time exclusively to farming. Ile and his wife are members of the Christian Church. They have had ten children, viz. : Jonathan, Joseph E., Ruhama, Caroline, Adelaide, Jane, Mattie, Jay, deceased, William, deceased, and an infant, deceased. Jay enlisted in May, 1864, in Capt. Fullington's company, and saw active service until sickness overcame him, when he returned home and died in November, 1876. He was Sergeant of his company.

GEORGE HAWLEY, farmer, P. O. Milford Center, was born in Stark County, Ohio, near Canton, in 1816, and is a son of John and Anna Hawley, the former a native of Ireland, who

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UNION TOWNSHIP.

came to America when two years of age, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Irish parent- age. In 1826, they came to this township, where he had purchased 400 acres of land-all in woods-at $2 and $3 per acre, on which he lived during his life and prospered. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, and took a deep interest in religious matters. They had twelve children, of whom two live in this county, one in Illinois, and one in Champaign County. His wife died in 1844, and he in 1847. Our subject was but ten years of age when his parents came to Ohio. He was married, in 1840, to Mary, daughter of Joseph Davis, of Knox County, Ohio, who settled here about 1857. After marriage, he settled on the old home place, and eighteen years ago came to his present place. Ile owns 144 acres of good land, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had one son, Valoris B., in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted in 1861, and died of typhoid fever at Bardstown, Ky., in 1862. They had six other children, viz .: Margaret F., George D., Joseph U., D. J., Mary Altura and Emma B. Five of these are living.

AARON HILL, deceased, was a native of Connecticut, where his life was passed until some time after he reached his majority. In many respects he was a representative man. He came to Ohio in a buggy, in 1830-poor in purse, but rich in ambition-and for three years worked as a farm hand. In 1833, he returned to Connecticut, and married Lucinda Robinson, after which he again came to this county, and, purchasing land, remained here for the rest of his life. He died November 24, 1862, aged about sixty-five years. For the sake of educating his children, he removed to Yellow Springs soon after the opening of Antioch College, and remained four or five years. He had three children. He was industrious and frugal, a shrewd business man, and generous to a fault, always assisting the poor who were worthy, and lending his sympathy to those in distress. He was affectionate and kind to his family, an obliging neighbor and a trusty friend. In later life, he made profession of religion, and devoted himself to a Christian life His last sickness was long and painful.

WATERMAN HILL. farmer, P. O. Milford Center, was born in this township in 1834, and is a son of Aaron Hill, an old settler, whose name is mentioned elsewhere in this work. His early life was passed on the farm and in attending the district schools, where he obtained the rudiments of an education that was developed by a course of study at Antioch College. When twenty-one years of age, he began life for himself as a farmer. In 1870, he went to Yellow Springs to educate his children, and remained there seven years. In 1877, he returned to this county, and purchased 286 acres of his present farm, which consists of 314 acres. It is well im- proved, highly cultivated, and thoroughly stocked. On December 9, 1857, he married Miss Susan E. Bennett, by whom he has had four children, viz .: Anna L., Ollie L., Mattie M. and Blanche M. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are good and consistent members of the Methodist Church. He has never served in any official capacity, having no aspiration in that direction, but devotes his whole time and attention to the cultivation of his farm and the care of his family.

EDWARD P. HOUGHTON, farmer, P. O. Milford Center, was born at Liverpool, England, April 14, 1851, and is a son of Zachariah B. Houghton. Ile passed his early life at Liverpool, and was educated at Cambridge University, from which he graduated in 1867. In 1871, he emi- grated to America and located in this county. Since his arrival, he has gone to England four times, making nine times that he has crossed the Atlantic. On New Year's Day, 1871, he mar- ried Jennette Drew, a daughter of Thomas Drew, and a grand-daughter of Samuel Drew, a man of great literary attainments and wide renown. By this marriage four children have been born, viz .: Gertrude, Zachariah, Harriet and Albert. Mr. Houghton is a member of Darby Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Milford Center.

WILLIAM McDONALD HOWARD, farmer, P. O. Irwin, was born on the farm now occu- pied by him, on October 20, 1839. His father, William Howard, was a native of Connecticut, who came to Ohio when a young man, and married Nancy McDonald, by whom he had three children, viz. : Nathan, Harriet, deceased, and William. The father died before our subject was born, and he was raised on the farm by his mother, who died in February, 1876. He was educated in the common schools of this county, and at Antioch College, Delaware, Ohio. In 1866, he married Lucy McMullan, daughter of John and Lucy (Matthews) McMullan. By this union four children were born, viz .: William, John, Walter and Ancie. Mr. Howard is a Republican in politics, but he takes no part in party struggles, and devotes his time entirely to his farm. He owns a large amount of land in this and Madison County, and is extensively en- gaged in stock-raising and dealing. His farm is one of the pleasantest, neatest and best regu- lated in the county.

WILLIAM B. IRWIN, deceased. In 1805, the worthy pioneer named here emigrated to Ohio from Wheeling, Va., and settled in Montgomery County. Two years later, he removed to Greene County, from which, after two more years had passed, he came to the territory now em- braced in Union County, and settled (in 1809) in what is now Union Township in the county last named. He continued a resident of this county forty-nine years, and during that period held the office of County Surveyor twenty-two years, County Commissioner for a considerable length of time, and Justice of the Peace for Union Township forty years. In his capacity of surveyor, he became very familiar with this portion of the Virginia Military Lands, and was ab'e to settle many a knotty point connected with certain locations. " He was recognized,"

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says a writer after his death, " as a man of good judgment, and this kept him in almost con- stant official position. He was highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens, no stain of any descrip- tion having at any time soiled his good reputation." In 1858, he removed to Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, at which place he continued his residence until his death, in October, 1878, at the age of eighty-three years. The writer quoted above further says : "He has been gathered to his fathers at a ripe old age, and his friends and neighbors, not only in Union County, but the county where he last resided, will hold his memory in reverence to their latest years." The Lebanon Gazette, in an obituary notice of him, uses the following language :

" Another pioneer has gone to his final resting place. He sleeps the sleep that knows no- waking. His toils and cares are over, and he is now receiving the promised rest, that only such men as he can have. This venerable and much-esteemed citizen of our place breathed his last here yesterday afternoon. He was eighty-three years old the 2d of this month. He died of general debility and old age, and passed away in a peaceful, quiet slumber. He had slept most of the time for five days previous to his demise, refusing any kind of nourishment that was offered him. His mind was not so much impaired, but he had no physical strength what- ever. Mr. Irwin has been an exemplary member of the Presbyterian Church for over sixty years, during most of which time he was an Elder, few were the meetings but what this aged sire might have been seen in his accustomed pew. He was a Justice of the Peace in Union County for over forty years, and was a man of sterling worth and ability. He surveyed most of the land which now comprises the above named county; and for years after he came to the county, although then past the meridian of life, he has surveyed many of the tracts in our own county. He has been industrious to a fault, working when most men of his years and crippled condition would have given up and done nothing. Ilis life is run, and now he will reap the re- ward of a crown in heaven."

Mr. Irwin's remains were taken to Milford Center, Union County, for burial.

MILO KIMBALL, farmer, P. O. Milford Center, was born in Rush Township, Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1835, and is a son of Beula Kimball, a native of Vermont, who settled in the above county when seventeen years of age, and was among the first settlers. Our subject passed his early life in his native county, and obtained his education in the district schools. In 1859, he married llester A , daughter of Robert and Rebecca McIlroy, and after marriage located on a farm in Rush Township, where he resided until 1872, when he purchased fifty-five acres where he now lives, which he owns in addition to 120 acres in Champaign County. He enlisted in May, 1864, in Company D, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Regiment Ohio National Guards, and saw active service for four months, when he was honorably discharged. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, with which they have been connected many years and in which he is a Deacon. They have had seven children, viz .: Delphos R., William B., Lewis H., Ora, deceased, Bennie, deceased, an infant, deceased, and Josiah Knight.

ROBERT F. LEE, farmer, P. O. Milford Center, was born in Hampshire County, W. Va .. Feb- ruary 14, 1824. Ilis father, Thomas Lee, was born in Old Virginia in 1791, and died in Union County, Ohio, in March, 1864. He was a lifelong farmer, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Christian Church. As a son of the "Old Dominion," he was hospitable and generous ; a man of decided convictions, he expressed his opinions without regard to public feeling and withal was a hard-working, honest pioneer. In 1816, he married Anna Goode, a daughter of Felix Goode, and a native of West Virginia, born in 1796; they had twelve children, viz .: Elizabeth, Addison, Sarah, Margaret, deceased, Robert F., Nancy, Jacob C .. Jane, Louisa, deceased, Martha, Thomas and Martin V .; of the survivors, one lives in Kansas and the others in Ohio, three of the latter in this county. The family came to Ohio in 1833 and located in Clark County, where they spent one year after which they made a permanent settlement in this county, where the mother died in 1870. Our subject was raised on a farm, and received a very limited education in the public schools of early days. He was married in 1847 to Elenor J , daughter of William Abra- ham, of this county, by whom he had two children-Anna Elizabeth, deceased, and William McClain. Mrs. Lee died in 1852, and in 1854 Mr. Lee married Sarah P. Gabriel, daughter of John Gabriel, of this county, and by her had six children, viz .: Francis D., Hilas M., Ora O., John Douglass, deceased, Elizabeth J. and Emma Rossetta. Mr. Lee's second wife died in March, 1873, and he remained a widower until July, 1882, when he married Mrs. Mary R. (Reed) Neal, a daughter of R. D. Reed, and widow of James Neal, deceased. Mr. Lee com- menced life for himself in 1847, purchasing sixty acres of land, which he afterward increased to 265 acres, 115 acres having recently been given to his sons. He is a member of the Christian Church and a Democrat in politics, but has never held an official position other than the minor township offices.

BENJAMIN LOCKE, liveryman, Milford Center, was born in this township in the year 1838. Ilis father, John Locke, was a son of Benjamin Locke, one of the first settlers of this section. He built one of the first houses at Milford Center, where he died and where his family lived for a long time, when they scattered and went to other parts of the country. John Locke married Louisa, daughter of Benjamin Harrington, a pioneer of this county, and made this his permanent home, dying here in 1851. Ile was a farmer and a licentiate minister, and a man universally beloved and respected by all who knew him. He had a family of eight children, of

Luther Turner

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UNION TOWNSHIP.

whom our subject is the only resident of this county. The latter, in 1861, enlisted in Clinton County, Ill., in the Nineteenth Illinois Zouaves, and, returning to Ohio after three months' service, he re-enlisted in Company B, Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and being sent to the front, was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, but immediately paroled. He was with Sherman in the Vicksburg campaign, after which he was veteranized and came home on furlough. He re- turned to the base of operations before Atlanta, was with Sherman in his march to the sea and participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the war. In the latter days of the war, he was promoted to First Lieutenant of a colored company, but refused the commission and was dis- charged in 1865, having served four and a half years. Returning home. he engaged in work, and in 1867 started his present enterprise, in which he has since been engaged. He was a member of Darby Lodge, No. 636, I. O. O. F., for a time, but honorably withdrew his member- ship.

LUCY ANN LUCAS, daughter of Elijah and Amy Ann Witter, old settlers of whom mention is made in this work, was born in Union County, Ohio, February 24, 1831. On April 3, 1851, she married Thomas Lucas, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch and German parentage, with whom she moved to Madison County, where he died in 1853, aged twenty-six years two months and four days. He was a Presbyterian in religious belief. They had two children, viz .: Amy A., who married John M. Milton, by whom she had two children-Charlie M. and Raymond H .; and Lucy Amelia, who married William Owen, by whom she has two children-Henry Clay and Alta, both daughters, living in Mechanicsburg. Mrs. Lucas was married again in 1865 to Aman Stanton, by whom she had three children-Eunice M., and two that died in infancy. Mrs. Lucas is a member of the Baptist Church, to which she has been connected since eighteen years of age. Mr. Stanton was a member of Company A, Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from February 2, 1864, to July 3, 1865.

GEORGE LYONS, druggist, Milford Center, was born in Union Township in 1846, and is & son of Benjamin and Mary (Morrow) Lyons, who were among the early settlers. The latter died February 13, 1882. They were parents of two children-Martha and George. Mrs. Lyons had been previously married to - - Whelpley. Mr. Lyons had been previously married twice, and had children. The early life of our subject was passed on a farm near Milford Center, and in attending the district schools, where he obtained an ordinary education. He remained on the farm until April, 1864, when he enlisted in the Thirty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, Company F, and was immediately sent to the front in the Atlanta campaign. He par- ticipated in the actions at and around Atlanta, was with Sherman in his march to the sea and on grand parade at Washington D. C. He was discharged in July, 1865. Upon his return home, he followed different avocations until April, 1871, when he engaged in his present business. He is a member of the Darby Lodge, No. 636, I. O. O. F. He was married in 1876 to Nannie Steward, by whom he had three children-Dessie, deceased, Charlie and Zoe.

J. M. MCILROY, farmer, P. O. Irwin, was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1837, and is a son of James S. and Cassadia McIlroy, the former a native of Washington County, Penn., and the latter of Harrison County, Ohio. Our subject's boyhood was passed on a farm, his education being limited to the common schools. Before reaching his majority, he moved with his parents to Illinois, and after residing in that State about three years he went to Iowa, where he spent three years more, returning to Champaign County just before the war. In October, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company H, Sixty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and in De- cember. 1863, was veteranized, receiving at the same time a First Lieutenant's commission. He saw hard service until the close of the war, passed all the grades of promotion up to Captain, and as such resigned his commission at Goldsboro, N. C., March 5, 1865. Returning home, he followed farming in Champaign County until 1882, when he bought 237 acres where he now re- sides. He was married, March 13, 1866, to Susan, daughter of T. M. Kimball, of Champaign County, and by her has had four children, viz .: Nellie, Thaddeus, Lois and James.

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 101

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1254

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254