The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 109

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 109

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JOHN M. SCHEIDERER, farmer, P. O. Marysville, was born in Bavaria, Germany, Decem- ber 24, 1814. His parents, John and Elizabeth Scheiderer, were also natives of Bavaria. Our subject is the oldest of seven children. In 1836, he came to America, and spent seven years working near Columbus, Ohio, at a salary of $12 per month. At the end of this time, he had saved $600, and in 1843 purchased seventy acres in Darby Township, for which he paid $4 an acre. His purchase was located in woods, and he had to clear a site for a house, which he erected of logs. In 1865, he built a brick residence at a cost of $1,000. His farm now contains 175 acres, and is well improved. At one time he owned over 800 acres in Darby Township, which he divided among his children, leaving him a homestead of 175 acres. He was married April 1, 1843, to Eva Schroll, a daughter of Milford Schroll, who was born in Bavaria December 18, 1818. Often children born to them, eight are living, viz .: Casper G., John P., Peter, Mag- dalena, wife of George Renner ; Christopher ; Barbara, wife of J. G. Nicol ; John G. and George P. George and Jobn M. are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Scheiderer are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. S. is a Democrat. Ile was Trustee of Darby Township six years.

JOHN P. SCHIDERER, farmer, P. O. Marysville, was born in Darby Township, Union County, in 1845, and is the second son of John M. and Eva (Schroll) Schiderer. They were married at Columbus, Ohio. He emigrated to the United States at an early day, and after stop- ping in Columbus two years, selected his home in this township, where he yet resides. The sub- ject of this sketch was married May 4, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth Mader, daughter of George Mader, of this county. She is a native of this county. To this union five children were born, three boys and two girls, of whom four are living, two boys and two girls, viz .: Andrew, Casper, Barbara and Mary. lle and his family are connected with the Lutheran Church of this township. He moved upon his present estate in 1871, after marriage, which he purchased of his father, consist- ing of 156 ; acres, which is among the most improved and valuable land of this township.

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DARBY TOWNSHIP.

PETER SCHEIDERER, farmer, P. O. Marysville, was born on the old homestead in Darby Township in 1847. He is third son of John M. and Eva (Schroll) Scheiderer. His early life was passed on the farm. September 7, 1873, he was married to Miss Mary Hupman, a native of Germany ; of five children born to them four are living-Lacarias, Elizabeth, Christopher and Magdalene. The same year of his marriage, Mr. Scheiderer settled on his present farm consisting of 149 acres. He also owns sixty-three acres adjoining ; he and family are members of the Lutheran Church.

JAMES S. SMITH, farmer, P. O. Plain City. The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Samuel Smith and Sally Bailey, his wife. Samuel Smith was a son of James Smith and a native of Massachusetts. He was a member of the Methodist denomination, but after coming to Ohio, devoted his time largely to farming. During the Revolutionary war, he was a Sergeant, and for three months was engaged in guarding the Hessians; he was also en- gaged for six months on Long Island, and at one time, during the latter term of service, being detailed to watch the enemy from the top of a breastwork then being erected, he had 300 shot and shell fired at him by the red coats. He was the father of nine children, one of whom died at their home in Vermont. In 1817, he came to the West and located on 637 acres of land in Darby Township, Madison County, which he purchased at $2 per acre. He brought with him seven children, three sons and four daughters, his eldest son having preceded him to the West. He afterward disposed of 237 acres of his land, retaining 400 acres, on which he continued to live. His wife was a daughter of Joshua Bailey and Elizabeth Chase, his wife. James Smith, the father of our subject and a son of the above, was born in the woods at Berlin, Vt., Septem- ber 23, 1793, and received very little schooling, by walking a mile through the woods to a school, then being taught by a woman, in a barn. At twenty years of age he came to Ohio with his father, but afterward returned to Vermont, and in 1820 married Lucy K. Jones, a native of that State, with whom he returned to his Ohio home. He had two children-Ira B., who died at the age of twenty-two years, and James S. In 1822 or 1823, he joined his brother John in the purchase of 200 acres of land, for which they paid $300. They continued together in their operations until they had 1,400 acres, and in 1850 they divided their property, each taking half in value. James chose, the west half, and continued in possession of it until February, 1881. In 1874, he discovered a failing in his sight, caused by the growth of a cataract over the right eye, which in time affected the other eye, and has resulted in almost total blindness. He makes his residence with his son, and now in the declining years of his life is tenderly cared for by the latter and his family. James S. Smith, whose name heads this sketch, was born at the old homestead in Darby Township, Madison County, August 9, 1823, and in 1850 came to his pres- ent place of residence. He owns 1, 100 acres of land, part in Darby Township, Union County, and part in Darby Township, Madison County. On September 8, 1853. he married Miss Amanda Perry, a daughter of James and Susan ( Lawrence) Perry, natives of Massachusetts, of English descent ; she was born at Plainfield, Vt., March 3, 1835. To this union four children have been born-Adeline T., born October 21, 1854; Archibald E., born January 11, 1859 ; Elmer Lawrerce, born January 29, 1861. and died June 19, 1874, from injuries received by a kick of a horse, and Merton A., born July 5, 1866. The surviving children reside at the house of their parents. In 1862, Mr. Smith left his farm and took up his residence in Urbana, where he re- mained until 1867, when he returned to this farm, and has remained on it constantly since.

E. C. SMITH, JR., farmer, P. O. Plain City, is a son of Eleazer C. and Irena (Doty ) Smith, who came West in 1832, and purchased 167 acres of land on which he died in 1866; his wife departed this life in 1848. Twelve children were born to them, seven of whom are living. The subject of this sketch was born in East Montpelier, Vt .. in 1826. Ile was married February 12, 1850, to Catherine A. Stephens, who has borne him four children, two of whom are living- Charles C. and John E. D. Mr. S. owns 220 acres of valuable land ; he has held the office of Township Trustee twelve years, and takes au active interest in public affairs ; he is a member of the Methodist Church, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

CONRAD STEEGE, JR., Principal of the Lutheran School, Marysville, was born in Hesse, now the Province of the Prussian Kingdom, in 1842, and is the oldest son of Conrad ant Mary (Knake) Steege, natives of the same province, who with four children embarked to the United States in 1856, and landed at New York in October of the same year. lle was a tailor by trade, and located in the German settlement called Chamburgh, in Cook County, where he remained through the winter, and in the spring moved to Will County, Ill., aud continued at h s trade, where he is yet residing with the tour children born in his native country. Two children have been born since his settlement in the United States. The subject of this sketch was edu- cated in the seminary at Addison Du Page County, Ill., where he graduated in 1871. The same year he came to this county, in answer to a call from the German settlement in Darby Township, and was instituted teacher of the German Lutheran School on the 29th of Ju y, of the same year, where he has since been engaged. Mr. S. worked at farming in the early years of his life until seventeen or eighteen years of age, when he engaged as clerk and salesman until he entered the service of the Union army in September, 1864, in Company A, Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He entisted as » private, but was elected Sergeant before going to the field. He served through to the close of the war in that office, and was mustered out at

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Chicago in July, 1865. The regiment was sent to Camp Butler, at Springfield, Ill., and re- mained until March, when they were despatched to North Carolina, where they arrived soon after Sherman's battle at Goldsboro ; thence to Raleigh, N. C., on to Richmond and Washington, and through the grand review. Returning to peaceful pursuits, he assumed his former occu- pation as salesman with Brown Brothers, at Crete, until his entry at school in 1868. He was united in marriage November 9, 1866, to Miss Mina, daughter of Joachim Becker. She was born in Pommern Province of Prusssia, and emigrated to this country with her parents in 1862. To this union eight children have been born, of whom are living-Emma, Martin, Edward, Louis, Emanuel, Bertha and Clara. He is organist in the Lutheran Church, with which his fam- ily are all connected. His father who had but the measure of energy and perseverance of his people, has, with economy and industry, gained a successful footing, and has become a cloth- ing merchant, in Crete, Ill., where he has been in the business circles since 1867. At that time he erected a small building for a store, which was the foundation for successful years of busi- ness to this time. His wife died in 1853, and he was again married to Miss Mary Bode. By this union he has two living children.

GEORGE STEVENS, farmer, P. O. Plain City. The progenitors of the Stevens family were of English stock. The first of the name in the United States, was Prince Stevens, the grand- parent, who made a permanent settlement in the Green Mountains of Vermont, where he died. The maternal head, Joshua Lawrence, was English born, and served under Washington in the Revolutionary war. Charles Stevens, the father of George, was a native of Vermont, and his wife, Hannah Lawrence, was born in Massachusetts. They subsequently moved to East Mont- · pelier, Vt., where they both died. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Plainfield, Vt., in 1811. He was married at East Montpelier, Vt., to Miss Caira Edwards, who died with her first-born child, and both were laid at rest in one grave. In 1835, Mr. S. came to Union County, after laboring at the shoe bench some years, had by close, economy, saved a small sum of money. In looking over the wooded scenery of Union County, he resolved to invest his last dollar, and accordingly invested his eotire capital, $47 in cash, for twenty acres of his present farm. IIere he cleared a spot, built his cabin, and went to work, binding his energies and his time in founding a home. By hard labor, economy and persever- ence, he was soon enabled to make additions to his little home. and long ere the hand of time hat silvered his hair with its threescore and ten, the rude cabin had given place to a commo- dious farmhouse, from which the eye could trace the boundaries of 700 acres of land com- posed of the rich and productive soil of Darby plains. This accumulation has been secured through hardship, and the privations incident to pioneer life. He subsequently contracted and gra ted a portion of the Pan Handle Railroad, and for a number of years has dealt largely in stock. His second marriage occurred January 3, 1837, to Miss Emily, daughter of E. C. Smith. and a native of Plainfield, Vt. Of the children born to this union, two are living, viz .: George W., who married Miss Nancy Ketch, by whom he has three children, viz .: Fanny, Harry and Ebbin E .; Mary E., wife of P. B. Ferris, presents one grandchild (Flora E.) to the joy and comfort of the household. The family are connected with the Church Universal of Plain City. Since the compilation of this sketch, we learn with sorrow of the death of George Stevens, Feb- ruary 18, 1883.

J. F. WOODS, farmer, P. O. Milford Center. John Power Woods, the father of Joseph F. Woods, was born in Rostraver, Westmoreland Co., Penn., in the year 1806, and within two years after his birth, his father, Rev. Samuel Woods, and his mother, moved out to Union County, in the State of Ohio. In a short time after they moved here, he was ordained and installed the first Presbyterian pastor of what was then called Upper Liberty Church, or congregation, which hal then been recently organized. Upper Liberty Church was located about two miles below Milford Center, on the waters of Big Darby Creek. Lower Liberty Church was situated twelve miles below Milford, on the Columbus road, on the waters of the same creek. He preached in those two congregations from the time of his installment until his death, which took place in the year 1815, when he was in his thirty-fifth or thirty-sixth year. He was much respected and esteemed as a pastor and in every way by his congregations and by all his hearers and members in his churches ; had much influence in building up and helping to enlarge churches during the brief period of his pastorate. He gradu ited in Dickenson College, Pennsylvania, and was thor- oughly educated for the ministry. lle left a widow and five small children, four sons and one daughter, John Power, Eliza, Samuel, James F. and William W. The eldest was in his ninth year, and youngest was about one year old. The mother, Margaret Woods, brought up, raised and provided for these children principally by her own well-directed and wisely shaped indus- try and economy Her money income (if it may so be called) for the first ten or twelve years thereafter, was obtained by the results arising from the skillful and ingenious use and ap- plication of her needle. Many wedding snits were made by her during this period of her lite, and said to be in the latest and neatest style and of the best of fits. The marriage suit of a learned Presbyterian Clergyman's son, the father of an ex Congressman from Union County, was of her make and finish. She was young, healthy and handsome, educited, fluent, easy and interesting in conversation. She instructed in the kitchen, and was not ashamed to put her hands to the help and the work therein. She was a lady to entertain in the parlor, would often

JAMES SMITH

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DARBY TOWNSHIP.

drop her needle and as often go from kitchen to parlor to entertain neighbors, strangers, doctors and lawyers, many clergymen and some divines from Scotland. She taught her children by way of parables, to make their own shoes, and to stand in their own boots and not in those of any other person. None of these five children are now living but James F., who now resides in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn. Her father was Col. John Power, of Rostraver, West- moreland Co., Penn., an intelligent farmer, and a man of much moral force and worth. Her mother was a daughter of Rev. James Finley, D. D., who was her grandfather and about the first Presbyterian who preached west of the Alleghany Mountains. He and his brother, Samuel Finley, were both graduates of Princeton College, New Jersey, and both were thoroughly edu- cated and learned for Presbyterian ministers, and became in early life influential Doctors of Divinity and distinguished theologians. Samuel was President of Princeton College some time before his death. Samuel Woods, the grandfather of these five small children aforementioned, came to this country at an early day, and first settled in Lancaster County, Penn., but in a short time thereafter, moved to Cumberland County, near Carlisle, Penn., and there educated his family. He was an intelligent and energetic farmer, and was a man noted for his moral worth. Two of his sons, William and Samuel, were graduates of Dickenson College, Pennsylvania, and educated especially for Presbyterian ministers, and became pastors in that church, of influence. William settled in Western Pennsylvania, and was installed pastor at an early day in Bethel Church, near Pittsburgh, and continued pastor in the same church and congregation for many years, from the time of his installment up to the time of his death. Samuel went West to Union County in the State of Ohio, as before stated. The three ancestoral families or first stock of the Woods family and Power family were as much respected and as well educated and as noted and distinguished Presbyterians as any other three families in this county at that period. Their descendants are now dispersed in divers locations through the Eastern, Middle, Western and Southern States. Among them are doctors, lawyers, Judges of courts, clergymen, teachers in institutions of learning, Presidents of colleges and seminaries, and Doctors of Divinity. The history of the first named ancestors, together with some of their descendants, anything like in full, when put on paper, would require volumes. J. F. Woods, a son of John P. and Jane (Fin- ley) Woods, and a grandson of Rev. Samuel Woods, was born in Union Township May 28, 1837; his grandfather, Rev. Samuel Woods, came to the West in 1807, and settled on the banks of the Big Darby, where he purchased 400 acres of land, which he cleared and on which he died. John P. Woods raised a family of five children, and selected a house near the old homestead, where he died March 6, 1851. His estimable wife who survives, is in the seventy-second year of her age. They were life-long members of the Presbyterian Church, and were highly respected. The subject of this sketch enlisted in 1861, in Company D, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as Sergeant in the three years call, and participated in the battles of Mill Creek, Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain, where he was placed on detailed service, and served to the close of his term. He was married in 1867, to Miss Bell, daughter of IIenry Martin, a pioneer of Darby Township. This union has been blest with three children, two of whom are living, viz .: Nellie and Carrie. Mr. Woods settled in 1874 on his present farm of 104 acres, which is among the most valuable and productive farms of the county.

GEORGE WOLF, farmer, P. O. Marysville, was born near Strasburg, Germany, in 1810, and in 1837 embarked to the United States and landed at New York. He was a cooper by trade, and learned his trade in his native county. He located at Albany, N. Y., working at his trade one year, when he moved to Amsterdam, N. Y., and followed his trade in that State six or seven years. In 1845, he came to this county and worked at his trade in various places. He purchased fifty acres of his present farm in 1847, the year of his marriage, and settled on the same the following year. His wife's maiden name was Barbara Dellinger, a daughter of Leonard Dellinger. This union has been blest with three children, two of whom are living. The oldest, Conrad, married Amy MacKanada, in 1876, and has three children living- Anna, George J. and Lena. Mr. W. has made subsequent purchases, until his farm reached 266 acres ; sixty-six acres of this land he disposed of to his oldest son, who resides with him. He and his family are connected with the Lutheran Church, and he numbers among the enter- prising farmers of the county.

WILLIAM H. WOLFORD, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center. The Wolford family are among the distinguished and respected pioneers of Union County, the history of whom is found in this work. The subject of this sketch was born in Marysville, Union County, Ohio, January 3, 1835, and is a son of Adam and Catharine Wolford. He is a cabinet-maker by profession, which he followed until he occupied his present estate in 1864, consisting of 164 acres, at this time valued at $50 per acre. His marriage to Miss Fidelia Lombard, a native of Windsor County, Vt., occurred in 1860. One child, Albertie, is the only living issue of this union. The family are among the oldest and esteemed connections of the county.

E. YOUNG, farmer, P. O. Unionville Center, was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 1834, and is a son of Alexander and Margaret Young. He was a native of Kentucky, and died in Illinois when our subject was ten years old. The subject of this sketch enlisted in August, 1861, in Company K, First Ohio Cavalry, in which he served seventeen months, and was taken prisoner October 1, 1863 ; he was confined in the prisons at Richmond and Danville, Va., An-

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

dersonville, Ga., Charlotte and Florence, S. C. He has the original document-parole of honor signed by J. C. Iverson, Commandant, at the Florence prison-dated December 24, 1864. In 1866, he was married to Harriet L., daughter of John and Fanny Holycross, who has borne him five children, four of whom are living, viz .: Lillie M., Mattie B., Sidney G. and Hadley C. Mr. Y. owns a farm of eighty-five acres. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, and politically is a Republican.

CHAPTER IV.

JEROME TOWNSHIP.

TEROME TOWNSHIP occupies the southeastern corner of Union County. It is bounded on the east by Delaware and Franklin Counties, on the south by Franklin and Madison; Darby Township bounds it on the west, and Mill Creek on the north.

Big Darby Creek, its principal stream, crosses the southwest corner. Sugar Run flows southward through the central portion, and farther east several small streams take their origin and flow into Delaware and Franklin Counties. The surface is level, or slightly rolling. The valley of Big Darby is narrow, and the soil of it is a rich, black loam. Back of this a ridge of land rises, having a width of perhaps one-half mile, the soil of which is some- what gravelly. A fertile black soil is found beyond this, covering much of the southern portion of the township. Farther to the north, clay predomi- nates. In early times, the entire surface was densely forested, and much tim- ber that would now possess great value, including black walnut and cherry, was felled and burned in large heaps, to make way for crops of corn and grass. Hickory, oak, walnut, elm, beech and swamp ash were the prevalent types of timber.

The township was organized March 12, 1821. As originally constituted, its bounds were as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of Darby Township, thence east to the east line of Union County; all south to be known by. the name of Jerome.

The first election was held May 10, 1821, for the selection of a Justice of the Peace. Clark Provin received the entire fifteen votes cast. James Ewing, who was then Sheriff of the county, Frederick Sager and Simeon Hager were the Judges of this election. John Taylor and John McCune were the Clerks.

A few traces of the pre-historic race still remain, but they are becoming fainter every year. In the valley of Big Darby are two small mounds, both of which are sepulchral. One of them is on Zachariah Noteman's farm, north of his residence. It is about thirty feet in diameter, and by repeated plowings has been greatly reduced in height. A few years ago, it was excavated. Two kinds of earth were observed, and ashes and charcoal were found. Six or seven human skeletons were exhumed, one of which was of remarkable size. The other mound is farther up the stream, north of it, on the old Ewing farm, situated probably twenty rods from the creek. It, too, was excavated some time since, and human bones were discovered.

Human skeletons have been found in many of the gravel beds that abound along the streams of the township. They are supposed to have been the re- mains of the Indians who frequented the country. It was not uncommon for the earliest pioneers to find silver brooches. They were of various sizes, either round or heart shaped, and had evidently been worn by the Indians. Some were several inches in diameter, and handsomely wrought, but they have all been carried away by the curiosity seeker. Flints, stone weapons and the

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JEROME TOWNSHIP.

badges of the Mound-Builders, have frequently been found in some localities. The collection of Mr. John Curry is, perhaps, the largest in the county.

When the first settlers invaded the wild precincts of Jerome, they came to the heart of a favorite Indian hunting ground. On the north, south, east and west were yet to be seen the rude wigwams of the dusky race that there- tofore had held undisputed possession of this game-abounding country. Their numbers, for many years, greatly exceeded that of the whites, and their pres- ence was at least novel to the settlers, if not dread-inspiring. Many of the young children of the first comers could not conquer a shrinking horror in their sight, for the Indian name was to them, by oft-repeated tales, too intimate- ly associated with dreadful massacres to permit them to overcome their fear of them. The Indians, observing this, would delight in brandishing their knives and frightening the boys and girls, who would always run in terror from them. The principal haunt of the red men, before they were disturbed by the pioneers, was on the banks of Big Darby, just northwest from Plain City. They dwelt here in considerable numbers about the year 1800, in wigwams built of bark and covered with brush. Their chief subsistence was game, although the squaws cultivated small patches of corn. This latter commodity, however, when desired by the Indians, after the advent of the pioneers, was usually ob- tained by begging, or in exchange for products of the chase. On the old Kent farm, on Sugar Run, was a sugar camp, where the Indians for many years engaged in the manufacture of delicious glucose for their own consumption. They hacked the trees with their tomahawks and inserted split spiles, caught the flowing sap in hewed out troughs and boiled it down in kettles of iron or copper. On the Abner Chapman place, in Survey 5,166, was a usual place for encampment of the Indians. Parties from Chillicothe were wont to meet them here, and barter for large quantities of raccoon skins and furs.

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 109

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